Maksimir 住宅丨克罗地亚萨格勒布丨Bosnic + Dorotic

The Maksimir House by Bosnic + Dorotic in Zagreb, Croatia, designed in 2023, embodies a concept of interconnected segments forming a cohesive whole. Starting from a half-cube, the structure evolves through strategic subtractions, balancing internal and external spaces. The design incorporates a central “cross” layout dividing service areas and living spaces, fostering harmony between interiors and outdoor courtyards. This introspective design, marked by elements like a filigree metal balcony, transforms occupants’ perceptions, ultimately revealing a newfound understanding of spatial unity.

Segmented Structure in Zagreb

The House in Maksimir, located in Zagreb, Croatia, emerges from a concept of interconnected segments forming a cohesive whole. Designed by Bosnic + Dorotic in 2023, this family house stands as a series of smaller segments of varying forms, each specific yet integral to the overall structure. The philosophy behind the house implies that each part, though distinct, encapsulates the essence of the whole.

Positioning the structure on the lot involves a strategic subtraction from an unrefined initial volume, aiming for a form distilled to its essentials. This process begins with a basic geometric shape: a half-cube approximately 14×14 metres (46×46 feet) wide. Practical spatial plan conditions and optimal site location determine its dimensions. Anchored in its environment, the house undergoes a transformation where two axes intersect the half-cube, dividing the plan square into four equal quadrants.

Interchanging Internal and External Spaces

Two additional, decentralised axes create a central “cross,” yielding two internal and two external spaces. This principle applies to the basement and upper floor as well. Establishing basic rules allows the building to self-generate, with the service spaces situated within the central cross. This arrangement designates the remaining internal spaces as living rooms, bedrooms, and a garage, with external spaces forming enclosed courtyards or terraces. The layout promotes clear interrelation between certain house parts.

The house’s discovery journey begins at the front yard entrance. Entering through a gate, one encounters a partially covered space featuring a perforated facade for privacy. A circular opening above, porous facade, grassed area, and expansive glass wall create intense visual stimuli. This moment initiates understanding the structure’s complexity.

Within the entrance hall, a phenomenological “threshold” separates interior and exterior. Upon passing through, one reaches the symmetrical house centre, compelling the diagonal revelation of spaces. A living room anchored by a kitchen and dining room on one side, and a stairway with an entrance hall on the opposite, replaces the muted vestibule with dynamic functional zones.

Creating a Unique Spatial Experience

Natural light guides occupants into a more intimate stairway space nestled between the garage and a smaller backyard. The stairway ascends to the upper floor or descends to the basement, spiralling back into the house’s plan centre. On the upper floor, children’s rooms with workspace, a master bedroom, and service areas border external terraces. A circular balcony with a filigree metal fence offers a final exploration step.

This balance of spatial introversion and extroversion characterises the house design. The scenario repetition enhances understanding of the structure, culminating in the realisation that the path ends where it began – the front yard. Although in the same place, one’s perception evolves, rendering the concept of ‘wholeness’ more comprehensible.