Croatia is known for its tourism, but few people know,
That it is a country of modernist architecture and exquisite design
The 2021 Benevolent Exhibition of Croatian Architects included a project for the South Salon of Villa Zagroje of the Palace of the President of Croatia. The Croatian Association of Architects (CAA), the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb (MSU), furniture brand Prostoria and Studio Grupa, which is known in Poland for its Arigato, Ili Ili or Baluna lamp designs, participated in the exhibition involving the restoration of the presidential salon.
The South Salon of Villa Zagroje of the Palace of the President of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
The idea behind the "South Salon 2021" is modernist values, which prove that architecture, design and art are equivalent fields. This is also what Filip Despot, Ivana Pavić and Tihana Taraba - designers of Studio Grupa - strive for in their work. Indeed, at the exhibition "South Salon 2021" they appeared as architects, lighting manufacturers and, above all, designers of lamps, furniture and carpets.
South Salon of the Villa Zagroje of the Palace of the President of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
The Bauhaus-inspired Baluna ceiling lamps catch the eye at the "South Salon 2021" exhibition. The chandeliers, which are also available in Poland, differ in the number of shades, which brings artistic confusion and interesting ambiguity to the arrangement. Minimalism, stylistic austerity, and a form that stemmed directly from the function of everyday objects were characteristic of the Bauhaus. Balun's chandeliers, in addition to superfluous ornaments, have asymmetrical arms, which gives the lamps expressiveness and artistic flair.
The South Salon of the Villa Zagroje of the Palace of the President of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
The resting areas of the "South Salon 2021" are complemented by Arigato floor lamps (with one and two light sources), which visually enclose the lounge sets. Arigato's matte black conation consists of straight arms, connected by movable joints. For a better effect, the inside of the shade is white, while the bulb is encased in an oval black element resulting directly from the form of the lamp. The light it gives is comfortable, not glaring.
The South Salon of the Villa Zagroje of the Presidential Palace of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
Arigato floor lamps were placed in close proximity to works of art because, like the paintings, they speak one language - geometry. The walls of the "South Salon 2021" are filled with modern artworks on loan from the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb. Among the names in the exhibition showing paintings: Silvio Vujičić, Ruff (2007), J. Dobrović (1985), Ivan Picelj, Composition W (1956), D. Jurić, Memo-Chips (2010). Wooden parquet flooring arranged in abstract elements consistently closes the interior with a brace of modernism.
The South Salon of the Villa Zagroje of the Presidential Palace of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
The exhibition "South Salon 2021" although temporary, raised important issues. Among other things, it showed the innovative character that modern diplomacy could follow. For many, it is also a hitherto unknown picture of Croatian culture, architectural heritage and creativity, which combined modernist architecture, contemporary, top Croatian design and artworks by artists from the 1950s to the present.
The South Salon of the Villa Zagroje Palace of the President of Croatia.
© PUFA DESIGN
The lamps shown in the exhibition "South Salon 2021" are available from the Polish distributor of the Studio Grupa brand - Pufa Design (FB and IG @pufadesign).
Photos: Vanja Šoli.
For more information, visit the company's Pufa Design page on the A&B portal.
