Muzamil Mutalib

advisor

City University Malaysia

Malaysia

Lecturer specializing in Interior Design and Architecture, with a strong passion for blending… more

Michal Kubanda’s proposal for Apartmány INSPIRAL, situated above the historic village of Starigrad in Croatia, is a poetic yet highly resolved architectural response to both the drama of the Adriatic landscape and the traditions of Mediterranean coastal living. With its thoughtful massing, spiraling composition and celebration of light, views, and material tactility, the project demonstrates maturity in concept development and execution. The design is rooted in an intelligent reading of topography using the steep terrain not as a challenge to be flattened but as a narrative tool that unfolds gradually through a series of tiered platforms and terraces. The spiral-inspired geometry creates a dynamic flow throughout the site, forming both private retreat zones and shared public spaces that echo the natural curvature of the coastline. This spatial choreography enhances the emotional connection between architecture and its setting. Technically, the project reflects an advanced integration of prefabricated modular construction with a lightweight steel frame system. The use of aluminum and perforated facade panels is particularly commendable not only for their shading and thermal performance but for the lyrical visual quality they impart. The play of light through circular perforations adds a sensuous layer of atmosphere, bridging functionality and art. Additionally, the decision to use sliding panels reinforces user agency and adaptive comfort, aligning beautifully with passive design principles. The architectural language is minimal yet rich with regional references. Colorful accents drawn from Croatian vernacular architecture shutters, doors and tile hues are tastefully embedded into a contemporary design language, reinforcing a dialogue between the past and the future. Moreover, the interplay of square and circular motifs throughout the structural and interior design ties the concept together with visual consistency. One of the most compelling aspects of the project is the merging of indoor and outdoor living. Networks of shaded terraces, integrated hammock zones and overlapping circulation routes not only blur boundaries between inside and out but also encourage a relaxed, communal lifestyle rooted in nature and leisure. This synthesis makes the resort both a destination and a spatial experience.

In conclusion, Apartmány INSPIRAL is an eloquent response to site, culture, and contemporary tourism. It showcases how architectural restraint, contextual sensibility, and constructional intelligence can come together to create a place that feels both grounded and visionary. This is a remarkable example of how future-forward coastal architecture can remain intimately tied to place, history, and atmosphere.