The Adriatic Anchor

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Architecture, Belgrade, Serbia

Project idea

The proposed project is a stunning seaside complex located in the picturesque town of Starigrad Paklenica in Croatia. The location is located on the coast of the Adriatic Sea, offering a beautiful view of the sea and the surrounding natural beauty. The project consists of three different residential areas, including villas by the sea, a large hotel, public buildings in the form of a volcano, a marina and a public promenade along the sea with public beaches.


Below the middle part of the hotel there is a hiking ramp that leads from the central part of the marina to the camp located in the higher part of the site. The marina is a paradise for boat lovers, with docks for about 30 boats and small yachts, and outdoor public pools. There is also a sailing club in the marina with a small café on one side and a slightly larger café carved into the grounds on the opposite side.

Volcano-like structures are mainly for public use and are intended for remote work and recreation. They include, among other facilities, open workspaces, a large gym and an indoor swimming pool. These structures are designed to blend in with the natural surroundings, creating an immersive experience for visitors.

Project description

The eastern part of the public promenade consists of five arms that are positioned in a way that follows the main axes of the site. Between these spikes are public beaches and water channels that penetrate the terrain of the site, creating an idyllic environment for visitors to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Sea villas are a key feature of the project. There are five villas in total, each of which consists of one horizontal block that contains the living part of the house and one vertical block for the night, where the bedrooms are located. The horizontal blocks are oriented the same way on all five villas, while the vertical blocks are slightly rotated to follow the direction of the associated axis.

The villas have a large rectangular cut-out in the middle to accommodate the stairs that connect the street to the villa, its pool and the public seafront promenade. The villas have an entrance at street level, as well as two entrances at the level of the lower block. One connects to the hallway, and the other directly to the kitchen. The entire building is painted pure white, while the interior façade of the upper block is perforated in a manner reminiscent of the stone walls used in the region for centuries. The interior of the villas is mostly a combination of raw concrete and wooden accents, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Technical information

Conical buildings consist of reinforced concrete concrete core in combination with wooden construction. The roof is supported by a series of rafters placed so as to follow the heating of the roof. There is a glass curtain under the suspended roof along the entire perimeter of the object.

The hotel is a curved structure that follows the shape of the site's typology, creating a seamless integration of the building with the natural environment. The hotel is built on wooden columns of different sizes, which in turn are supported by wooden beams that follow the contours of the terrain. The hotel has two entrances on opposite sides and two additional entrances in the middle, creating a convenient meeting place for guests. In the center of the hotel there is a restaurant with a panoramic view of the sea and the surrounding landscape.

Zones