
first image
'nest and cave house' by idis turato
located in the hinterland of the opatija riviera in croatia, the 'nest and cave house' remains typologically and morphologically
true to the surrounding space as a whole, as it develops a 'hidden' side through the dialectics of domination over and subordination
to the landscape. not being structured solely by the slope onto which it is built (as it is the case with most villas in opatija),
the conception designed by croatian architect idis turato actively constructs the landscape and intertwines it by laying down the
ground floor on an upper object which hovers above as a displaced level.
the dislocated upper section and its hypertrophic console express is altered with shadow and hidden openness, the quintessential
tension of a mediterranean house: the battle of the light and darkness. the home becomes a reinterpretation of its heritage by
achieving a full form via projecting the object and opening the void in the facade, leaving behind an obscure volume to the living area.
through its fenestration facing away from the road and surrounding structures, the landscape penetrates and dictates the depth or
flatness of the interior, with a visually dominant white aluminum covered steel grid to invite the kvarner bay inside. with strict
geometric and sculptural attributes provide a necessary foundation for a future narrative

view from the street above the house
image © sandro lendler

aerial view
image © zelimir gržančić

view from the swimming pool

under the console
image © ivan dorotić
panoramic view in front of the house
image © sandro lendler
console detail
image © ivan dorotić

night swimming
image © sandro lendler

living room interior
image © sandro lendler
entrance space interior
image © sandro lendler

entrance diagram
image © turato architecture

usage of the space
image © turato architecture
project information:
project: nest and cave house
author: idis turato, turato architecture, www.idisturato.com
collaborators: ana staničić, ida križaj, ivan arbanas (statics)
photographers: sandro lendler, ivan dorotić, zelimir gržančić
video: sandro lendler (video), ana stulina (editing), damir martinović mrle (music)
site area: 1771,0 m2
total layout surface area: 393,5 m2
project year: 2010
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see more project submissions from our readers here.
awful, another client who lets himself be fooled by the cantilever cheap-trick… as Andre 3000* says, “what is cool in being cool?” and how come architect and clilent do not realise how psychologically unpleasant the feeling is, to have a block looming above your head, no matter how structurally proven? and again, wouldn’t you prefer a vegetated wood pergola with a real mediterranean feel, crating a play of light and shadow, rather then the permanent shaded oppressive ceiling?
such a pity, it seems a good client…
*singer of band “Outkast”
well, they could hide the smurf balloon just fot the photo you know
Quite imaginative, and it doesn’t spoil the view from the house across the street or from the road. Window design and placement seem eccentric; and more windows in the top story, please.
I guess the whole point is to impress and wow the observer. What is impressive is the effort expended and the great construction cost of demonstrating that half of ones home is hanging in the air like an unfinished bridge for no particular reason.
Once you recognize the disconcerting mass further comment becomes pointless. There is complicity on the part of the client.
Tough crowd! I love this design. Who needs a “reason” for having half your house
cantilevered at the perfect angle to optimize the view? I agree Mort D’, though. If I were the owners, I might
be tempted to immediately cut more windows into both levels.
I totally agree with Bruno de Paris
I think it’s really beautiful and is perfectly adapted to the Mediterranean landscape