monolithic stone house by studio archaos emerges from verdant site on croatian island

Split-based Studio Archaos introduces Rogač House, a stone residence surrounded by numerous hundred-year-old carob trees on the Vis island in Croatia. Erected on a steep plot, the dwelling presents itself as an archetypal monolithic structure, made of coarsely chiseled stone, arising out of the lush vegetation. overlooking the local harbor and historical center, the house is designed to provide its occupants with idyllic views, while its form echoes the shape of the nearby Tower of Perasti, a popular landmark of the region.

all images by Bosnic+Dorotic

powerful spatial connections and authentic stone

The arrangement of the openings is the product of the thoughtful gradation of different vistas and degrees of privacy of the interior spaces, as well as the terraces, loggia, and balcony on the outside. This creates an uninterrupted powerful dialogue between the house and the environment while emphasizing the counterpoints of the introverted and the extroverted ambiance. Studio Archaos (find more here) have formed smaller deep windows in playful shapes, to evoke the feeling of a cavelike shelter. Meanwhile, the larger openings, continuous with the terraces and balconies, act as frames for spectacular panoramic views. 

The authentic Vis stone, chosen for the construction of the house, is a guarantee of security and stability. The stone is used in synergy with honed concrete blocks and surfaces which make up the console terraces, the balcony, the bridge to the entrance of the house, the paths, the loggia, and the roof. The surfaces have been conceived to protrude out of the stone structure of the house as if they were cut off bridges, thus creating a dialogue between the different materials and shapes as well as connecting the house with its surroundings. The chosen materiality of the house preserves the memory of the local tradition, achieving a symbiosis of archaic (stone) and contemporary (concrete).

the layout of the Rogač House

On its southern side, the building is flanked by a paved road. Due to the exceptionally steep slope on which the plot is situated, combined with the building regulations which require a house to be a certain distance from the road, a concrete bridge has been constructed as the sole driveway to the house. This southern facade, facing the road, is completely blank, reduced in its structure to only two openings: the main entrance to the house, accentuated by the bridge, and another, side entrance, accentuated by the long exterior staircase carved into the steep terrain.

The top floor of the house is almost entirely taken up by the master bedroom with the adjoining bathroom. The bedroom opens out onto a roof terrace which, protected from all sides by elevated walls, offers a unique view of Vis and the Dalmatian islands. The bicycle storage room also finds itself on the top floor, next to the entrance. A console staircase leads down to two bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and private access to the balcony and the loggia. Another staircase leads further down to the common room.

The enclosed space under the staircase hides an inbuilt bathroom and storage while the open kitchen, living and dining room give access to the spacious console terrace, the focal point of summer activities. The terrace, embedded in abundant vegetation, makes use of the shadow and the shade which the house provides, but it also soaks up the milder sun rays coming from the east and west. On the bottom floor of the house is a space where the tenants and their guests can gather and relax. It includes a wine storage and it opens onto a shaded summer kitchen placed under the console of the upper-floor terrace.

Designed in this way, the space becomes an intimate garden terrace, adjoined by a monolithic concrete pool, surrounded with the lush carob-trees which also serve as a screen hiding the terrace from the outside. The furniture and the woodwork are all made of oak while the walls have been treated with rough plaster. The final treatment of the material enhances the sculptural design of the building, while respecting the authentic atmosphere of the location. 

Surfaces protrude out of the stone structure of the house as if they were cut off bridges, thus creating a dialogue between the different materials and shapes

project info:

Name: Rogač House
Designer: Studio Archaos
Project team: Srđan Ostojić, Toni Kerum, Krešimir Ćavar

Location: Vis, island of Vis, Croatia

Plot area: 495 sqm

Built area: 225 sqm

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.