Two climbers house by Sara Peternel s.p. and biro GAŠPERIČ

For a lifetime, they have lived actively, both personally and professionally, shaped by rich travels and adventures—ski tours, windsurfing, and, above all, climbing on rocks around the world. This active lifestyle fulfills them, and even as they enter their later years, they have no intention of slowing down. As their professional roles are gradually taken over by their sons and colleagues, they now seek to focus even more on leisure activities.

This project was conceived as their final home. The plot, a steep, grassy slope with breathtaking views of the surrounding forests, is as wild and adventurous as their life has been. The design of the house and garden carefully considers the preservation of existing trees, while adapting to the challenge of creating level ground that ensures enough sunlight.
The land gently guided the design, dictating the placement of the house along the southern slope. Its narrow, elongated form nestles into the terrain, blending naturally into the environment. From the north, the house appears low and discreet, with its basement sunken into the earth, while the southern side rises seamlessly from the hillside, merging with the wild, flowering slope below. The house aligns with the existing birches, oaks, and tall spruces on the west, blending harmoniously with the landscape without disrupting it.

The owners’ adventurous spirit is reflected in both the house and garden, where the boundaries between them dissolve. The garden and house are unified, flowing together in harmony.

To create a beautiful garden, it was necessary to open the terrain around the house and create a level space for the extensive garden program. On this challenging terrain, we envisioned an outdoor sauna, a swimming pond, a vegetable garden with raised beds, and an outdoor fireplace, along with several spots for relaxation in both the shade and the sun. The sauna is tucked into the slope on the east side, positioned carefully below a cherry tree. The orientation of the sauna shapes the swimming pond, offering beautiful views of the water and the surrounding forests. The climbing rose provides privacy, enhancing the sense of tranquility.

On the western side, a large retaining wall gently descends to the level of the existing terrain, gradually evolving into elevated vegetable beds. These are gently connected to the house by large natural stepping stones, forming a path that weaves together the living terrace to the north, the entrance, and the swimming pond. The terrace to the north provides shade in the summer heat, while the floating terrace to the south offers a sun-drenched space for gatherings by the summer kitchen in autumn and winter.
All these elements are carefully woven into the landscape, ensuring that the house and garden become a cohesive whole.

The materials used connect the architecture with the landscape. Stone boulders are reflected in the stone cladding of the house, sauna, and retaining walls, while wood accents on the facade and wooden terraces tie the house to its natural surroundings. Recycled beams from a hayrack add a touch of history to the contemporary design.

This project shows how challenging sites can lead to the most innovative and beautiful outcomes. By respecting the land and its trees, the house and garden become inseparable, with the boundaries between architecture and nature nearly impossible to define.

• All landscape architecture offices involved in the design of landscape:
Sara Peternel s.p.
Lead landscape architect: Sara Peternel, u.d.i.k.a.
Associate landscape architect: Neja Molan m.i.k.a.

• All architecture offices involved in the design:
BIRO Gašperič
Architects: Matej Gašperič, u.d.i.a. / lead architect , Eva Matjašević, m.i.a. / Architect Associate

• Other credits:
Photography: Miran Kambič
House: Eko Art