Villa Z1 is not just a house. It is the continuation of a family story that began with modest beginnings, hard work, and a deep connection to this land.
Our family’s roots in this place go back generations. My grandfather and great-grandfather came from humble circumstances. Life was simple, and often difficult. Several family members lived together under one small roof in an old house on the hillside, just about a kilometre from where Villa Z1 stands today. The living room was only around 10 square metres, the sleeping rooms were small, and space was shared by necessity rather than choice.
My grandfather spent years working in construction in Germany to support his family. Like many men of his generation, he carried the weight of creating a better future with his own hands.
Over time, the family moved lower down the hill into a newer and slightly larger house. It was an improvement, but still modest by today’s standards, especially as the sons grew older, married, and started families of their own.
Eventually, my grandfather decided it was time to build two houses for his two older sons, while the youngest would remain with the parents. Finding land was not easy. In those days, people rarely wanted to sell good plots. But after some persistence, the family managed to secure land.
Two identical houses were built side by side. With the knowledge and experience my grandfather had gained in Germany, much of the work was done by the family themselves, with only limited outside help. It was a practical decision, but also a reflection of the time: you built what you could, with what you had, and you made it last.
I was born a few years before my family moved into one of those houses. It served us well for many years. Later, my parents moved to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, in search of better work opportunities and a better life. Still, our house in our hometown remained an important part of our lives. Summers were spent here, surrounded by family, nature, and familiar landscapes.
As I grew older, however, I started to feel the limitations of the old house more clearly. It was cold, without proper thermal insulation. The living room faced north, so there was little natural light. At the time it was built, protection from summer heat mattered more than bright open interiors, and air conditioning was not something people planned around. What had once been a solid and practical family home no longer matched the way we wanted to live.
After I became the owner of the land, I wanted to create a place where my family and I would genuinely love to return — not just out of habit or nostalgia, but because it felt warm, open, comfortable, and alive.
At first, I considered renovating the existing house. But after reviewing the possibilities, it became clear that renovation would mean too many compromises. To create the kind of home this place deserved, we would have to start again.
I also tried to find another suitable plot for a new project. But, just as in my grandfather’s time, land was difficult to secure. Owners of the best plots were not willing to sell. In the end, I decided to return to the place where our family had already built once before: the old house would make way for a new one.
The construction of Villa Z1 lasted three years. After the initial structural work was completed, we came to the area for what was supposed to be a normal family holiday. Very quickly, I realised that the project needed constant attention. There were too many details, too many decisions, and too many moments where being present would make the difference.
Because I am self-employed, my family and I had the flexibility to stay. So instead of returning to Zagreb as planned, we remained here for almost two years, living close to the construction site and following the process day by day.
That changed the entire character of the project.
Villa Z1 was no longer just a design on paper or a construction investment. It became deeply personal. We experienced every stage of the build first-hand: every detail, every problem, every solution, every improvement. The house was shaped not only by architects and builders, but by lived experience.
Today, Villa Z1 is enjoyed by several generations of our family. My daughters, my wife and I, my father, and occasionally my siblings all spend time here. In a way, the house brings together the past and the future: the memory of modest beginnings, the work of previous generations, and a new standard of comfort for the generations still growing up.
Villa Z1 stands on the same family land where an older home once stood. But it carries something more than stone, glass, and design. It carries continuity.
It is a tribute to those who built before us — and a place created for those who come next.