The Most Unusual Houses in Zagreb
Throughout history, people went from living in caves to living in castles and today, you can find basically anything – from nomads who prefer changing their location every once in a while and living in their RVs to cramped city apartments. Whichever option you prefer, there’s nothing as exciting as moving in and setting up your new home. Creating warm shelter and decorating it with personal bits and bobs to add a bit of special charm to it is a different process for each and every one of us.
Image Photo Credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak
Some prefer minimalism in interior design while others don’t mind chaos and an overwhelming number of decorations. What’s most important is that we feel good in our own home. That’s why I’ll show you the most impressive houses around Zagreb to prove a point – home is where your heart is, but also, home is that special place that makes people say “Everything around just screams your name”.
Asylum of colours and vintage décor
Image Photo Credit: Paula Bracko
A very special house is located in Zagreb’s neighbourhood Sigecica and it combines various interior and exterior design styles. It definitely isn't the kind of place I’d like to live in, but it still brings a smile to my face whenever I pass by. The house was built in 1937 and it combines modern architecture with vintage pieces such as antique stone piers, colourful tiles to make it more lively and rustic fountain in which you’ll find grass, not water. If you have a chance, I suggest going over there to admire this whimsical house and snap a few photos – it’ll look great on Instagram.
Image Photo Credit: Paula Bracko
Perfect scenography for horror movies
The haunted house in Upper Town of Zagreb, also known as Villa Auer, is connected to one of the urban legends that locals have been whispering about for many years. Today it is an impressive and luxury architectural piece, but not so long ago it looked like a construction from a nightmare. If you ask locals about it, they will tell you about a strange energy that envelops it, the weeping and creaking that was coming through broken windows while the cold wind was trying to mask a silent cry that could be heard from time to time.
Image Photo Credit: Pixabay
Some think ghosts haunt this house because it is located near St Roch's Park which is presumably cursed thanks to the fact that an old cemetery was once at that same location. Today, the house is renovated and its new owner completely reconstructed it so it wouldn’t scare people away, but it’s hard to forget all the stories and myths that turned it into a creepy legend which has been famous for decades. Either way, if you feel brave and adventurous, take a walk nearby and prick up your ears – you never know, you just might hear macabre groans of dead souls floating around. And if not, at least you’ll enjoy the beauty of St Roch's Park – it’s one of my favourite green areas in the city.
A tree house for adults
The last one is also the most playful one. ''Why?'' you may ask. Well, it just might have something to do with the fact it’s a tree house, but for grownups. Exciting, right?! Obviously, children are still allowed to use it, but since this tree house is actually in the middle of a coffee shop backyard, they are accompanied by their parents. If you’ve ever been at 3 Horvacanska Street, then you’ve surely noticed The Most Unusual Garden – a special and mystical café that’s an absolute gem in the city of Zagreb. Apart from its magnificent interior design, this café also has the aforementioned tree house which looks like a white fairytale castle overlooking the town. People living in cities usually live in buildings so most of them dreamt of having a tree house when they were kids, but only a few had their wish fulfilled. Thanks to this great place, now every child, teenager or an adult can come here, have a cup of coffee and enjoy the cosiness of this tree house which serves as a shelter for everyone who thought their childhood dream of having a tree house is dead.
Image credit: Josipa Zizic
As you can see, special places are all around us and they appear each day at new locations. It seems to me that each one is more exciting than the last, so go and explore Zagreb because you just might surprise yourself with houses I might not have even mentioned. Or better yet, you might find your future home quite accidentally.
Header Image Credit: Zagreb Tourist Board, Marko Vrdoljak
Author: Paula Bracko