DATE

28.08.2026

The project, conceived as a high-end private residence for businessman Ante Vlahović, demonstrates the Portuguese Pritzker Prize winner’s mastery in intervening within demanding heritage contexts without renouncing a radical formal abstraction. The compositional strategy is defined by a forceful volume that respects the street alignment, reclaiming the scale and typology of the area’s traditional urban block. The street-facing facade is resolved through a sober and hermetic skin, where material texture and geometric rigor protect the privacy of its inhabitants from the external bustle, establishing a respectful dialogue of contrast with the surrounding 19th-century architecture.

The design takes on a singular dimension through the masterful use of light and transparency on its inner front and transitional areas. The integration of large-format minimalist metal framing systems allows the massive glass panels to dissolve, connecting living spaces directly with interior courtyards and private gardens. This fluid opening blurs the boundaries between the home’s interior and the private landscape surrounding it.

At night, the residence undergoes a powerful spatial metamorphosis thanks to a carefully planned lighting scheme and the transparency of its enclosures. The architecture sheds its daytime hermeticism to transform into a sort of urban lantern and living gallery, where artworks, interior structure, and daily pathways are subtly revealed, turning the house into a visual landmark in the neighborhood.

The Preradovićeva House synthesizes Souto de Moura’s design maturity: an architecture of apparent simplicity yet enormous tectonic complexity. Through the control of construction details, the balance between opacity and transparency, and a refined sensitivity to site, the Portuguese architect achieves a timeless contemporary work that enriches the urban landscape of Zagreb.

MARCH VALENCIA | ARQUITECTURA Y DISEÑO

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