Nestled on a hillside in the mountainous Gorski Kotar region of Croatia is the Black Lodge / Tomislav Soldo. The Croatian architect had the inspiration to create the structure from something that no longer exists: namely, a walnut tree, one that provided both natural shading and the initial notion to erect a residence in the area. The compact layout has a pitched roof and wooden facade cladding, with the 100 square meter floor plan featuring a living room, open kitchen and a bathroom unit on the ground floor, a sleeping area on the mezzanine level and a small storage area in the basement. While the black coloring contrasts with the surrounding landscape to create a stark monolithic appearance, the opposite effect occurs at night, when exterior lights transform the structure into a delicate, almost lantern-like object.
