House in Nerezisca, Island Brac | Branka Juras

Located in the centre of Brac, the village of Nerežišća is a perfect example of a typical Dalmatian settlement.
We see the red of terracotta roofs and traditionally-built stone houses with the local church tower and royal palace giving the village real individuality.
The reconstruction and extension of the house designed by our practice created new residential spaces whilst respecting the character of the existing village buildings. To enhance the space in the existing principal building, we were able to add an extension, which was sympathetic to the traditional building.
This structural intervention was carried out using a collage technique which achieved a clear distinction between the existing exterior cladding and the new.
Through a concise re-organization of the room plan, we achieved a far more harmonious spatial arrangement, which new users of the interior will fully appreciate.
Respecting the identity of the existing buildings, whilst restoring a more logical relationship between the spaces that connect the houses was our guiding principle in the planning of this project.
The correlation between the geometry of solid walls with small openings and traditional roofs, was achieved within a contemporary concrete shell.
New large openings frame the landscape and draw us into new vistas. Transitions from the traditional to the new give the house a new identity.