Villa Calma Starigrad Croatia

Modern design in a traditional environment

With its modern and sleek design, Villa Calma is located in the middle of a small Dalmatian town of Starigrad, known for its traditional architecture. 

Steps away from the sea, protected by the Velebit mountains, Villa Calma offers tranquillity and a high level of luxury. National park Paklenica is only 2 km away, and the historic area of the City of Zadar is an excellent choice for an afternoon city break. 

Seeking perfection

When the owner Stipe Katić decided to build a luxurious villa in Starigrad in 2013, he had a clear vision of how it should look, minimalistic and modern. 

Although its located in an area where most houses follow a more traditional approach to materials and design, Stipe was determined to build a villa that would follow market demand and trends. 

He teamed up with Nataša Josipović, an architect from Studio Tobis, who brought his ideas and wishes to life. 

He actively took part in every phase of the project, researching the materials used. The main challenge was finding the facade stone as available options were cold and greyish stone instead of the desired warmer beige shade. Finally, he discovered Travertino Navona, an Italian stone that perfectly fits an environment so close to the sea. 

Special attention was dedicated to doors, with the main entrance pivot doors weighing over 100 kilograms. All rooms have trendy wall-to-ceiling doors and frameless windows with ultra-clear glass, letting in natural light. Balconies are covered in highly resistant Brazilian teak that can handle strong winds and salt in the air. 

Nina Ninčević, from Arhitektura Plus Studio, was in charge of the interior design together with Božena Bratović Solić. They used modern, minimalistic and functional design. 

The biggest challenge was to achieve a balance between modern, minimalistic and luxury style while trying to keep a sense of warmth and comfort. This was accomplished through incorporated wooden materials, soft and neutral colour tones followed by carefully selected materials. 

The house follows a smart home concept. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed with automatic lights and a TV with a personalized message, while a touch screen comes with an interface that allows booking of Villa’s services.

Villa Calma has a spacious terrace with a heated pool with a waterfall, lawn with palm trees, and a dedicated sunbathing zone. The terrace sits on two levels, with the upper area dedicated to a wellness zone with bio-sauna and a jacuzzi. 

Inside, spread across 250 square meters, Villa Calma continues to amaze. The terrace is connected to the lower floor with an open kitchen plan and dining and living rooms. 

Villa Calma opened its doors in 2018 and has a capacity of a maximum of 8 guests, offering four luxurious and spacious bedrooms. Three rooms have a king-size bed, and one room features a twin-share set up. 

All bedrooms have fully equipped en-suite bathrooms with walk-in showers, while the front two bedrooms have an additional bathtub by the bed with breathtaking views of the Adriatic.