The Hiža house is a 230-square-meter renovation project by the Zagreb-based firm PROARH, led by architect Davor Matekovic, completed around 2015. Located on the green slopes near Kumrovec in the Zagorje region of Croatia, the project transformed a dilapidated, decades-old cottage into a modern and organic living space that honors local heritage. The design reinterprets traditional cottage architecture by combining natural materials with a bold, contemporary intervention. The main architectural feature of the renovation is the addition of a sleek glass and aluminum cube that replaces the old porch and slides outwards from the main thatched volume. This addition serves as a dynamic entrance and a living area that is oriented to receive maximum southern exposure. With sliding glass walls, the cube blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces and opens up to a new wooden terrace that appears to hover over the hillside, offering expansive views of the Zagorje landscape. The traditional cottage form was preserved, but the architects enhanced its material palette by using locally sourced, rustic materials. The original thatched roof was replaced with a new one that extends down over the façade, and the gables were re-clad with wood. This innovative use of straw, considered an archaic material, creates a warm and earthy exterior that contrasts with the minimalist glass cube. The renovation also preserved the cottage's original stone pedestal, grounding the updated structure in its history. A pathway made of tree stumps leads to the entrance, further connecting the home with its natural surroundings. Inside, the house is organized across three floors: a basement, a ground floor for common living spaces (leisure, dining, and cooking areas), and a first floor for the sleeping areas. The ground floor is arranged around a central "hearth" in the traditional Zagorje manner. This approach of reinterpreting traditional construction technologies and using local, renewable resources demonstrates a commitment to sustainable, low-impact design. The project has received recognition, including being shortlisted for a World Architecture Festival Award in 2015. Credits Architects: PROARH (led by Davor Matekovic) Photography: Damir Fabijanić