Renovation of the grounds of the villa White Mansion

location: Bled, Slovenia
client: Riko d.o.o. Ljubljana
area: 1,8ha
design period: 2004
construction period: 2009
project team:
Landscape architecture : Ana Kučan, Luka Javornik
sculpture: Mirko Bratuša, akad. kipar
Architecture of the watch hut cover: Maruša Zorec
Construction: Matjaž Filić, EleaiC, Gregor Gruden, IMK
Electroinstallation: Bojan Germovšek
contractors: Givo, Coston, Arcadia, Pro Horto, Riko Hiše, Ključavničarstvo Kunc, Kamnoseštvo Matošič
supervision: Iztok Hočevar, IB - Program
photographer: Peter Koštrun

The neo-renaissance villa is situated on the verge of Lake Bled. The area is steep, mostly covered with forest. The scattered remains of the former forest-park – paths and masonry details – unfold the once-discovered potential of the site. The main experiential value is hidden in the sequence of a walk through the forest behind the villa. From time to time, between the dark verticals of the trees, magnificent views open to the lake, to the island and to the castle, while the forest itself unveils interesting ambiences with significant connotations: a watch hut, water reservoirs and relief flats. The proposal conserves and enhances the existing qualities of the environment by revealing certain old structures and adding some new ones, by adding new punctuated planting and enhancing views by removing selected overgrowth. The most appropriate programme, according to the aspirations of the owner, seems to be a sculpture park, which will evolve gradually. It begins with the sculpture at the corner of the ice-cellar behind the villa. The sculpture and the vault of the cellar are reminiscent of a grotto, one of the most important elements of renaissance and baroque gardens. The path will later lead the visitor into the forest, which, while infused with cultural imprints, still preserves some of the calm monumentality of the primordial wild.

Garden 09-05

The site is situated at the edge of the forest. The location of residence follows the idea of the Villa – the quest for an immediate physical and visual connection between internal and external parts of an unanimous dwelling and the pleasurable enjoyment of vistas from the raised position. The residence at the north end […]

DIY Treehouse

The tree house is made of a dark brown T-FIX waterproof panel, with lap joints. Its smooth side is used for a seat base and backrests. Backrests are part of the hidden support, which assist the ladder and the branches in carrying the seat base. It is custom made by repeated checking in situ with […]

Garden 11-05

Garden 07-06

The house is set on a very steep slope. The extension for swimming pool on the lower level required the formation of terraces, which would enable the use of the forested part of the garden of the upper level with the one below, fusing thus the garden with the surrounding forest without visible barriers.