The mild climate with plenty of sun and the abundance of stone have determined the architectural characteristics of Adriatic Croatia and the broader Mediterranean area. Mediterranean settlements and buildings bear witness to ecological principles applied in construction where the local people used the transferred knowledge about the immediate environment, as well as rationality and purposefulness in the use of natural resources and space. The construction material (stone and, to a lesser degree, wood) was taken from nature and the location of construction and building shapes were adapted to the climatic, relief, hydrological and other characteristics.
Tightly built settlements with densely constructed building complexes separated by narrow paved roads called kaleare typical for the Mediterranean area. High stone houses leaning against each other create shadows and comfortable shade during hot and dry summer months. They also provide protection from the cold burawind during the winter months. Houses have thick closed walls made of processed stones with small window openings and shutters, škure, made of solid wood boards that protect from the sun and the wind. Recognisable architectural characteristics include wooden doorframes, roofs covered by Roman roof tiles and chimneys with various battlements.
Simpler residential structures are bungalows and more complex ones are one and two storey homes. Upper floors feature a kitchen (kužina) and rooms with a tavern on the ground floor. The tavern was primarily used to dispose of and store tools and equipment used for jobs that had to be done in vineyards, as well as others, such as storing wine, dried meat or cheese, olive oil, vinegar (balsamic vinegar), brandy and other delicacies. Often, the tavern would be the most notable room in a Mediterranean house because it was the place where the household members would socialize with their neighbours, especially when they played cards or did wine tasting. These were the occasions when song and laughter would spontaneously start.
Closed private areas are inseparable from (public) open areas in Mediterranean houses. The inner courts and terraces serve as living rooms and places for get-togethers because of pleasant shadows and shade created by grape vine lattices, flowers, fig or mulberry trees. Conversations, sounds and food aromas spread from the houses to the streets, town squares and shores where a part of everyday life takes place: this is where residents communicate with each other and relax, but also perform their daily and seasonal chores such as air drying their laundry, washing barrels, mending fishing nets and others.
Dr. Sanja Lončar, PhD
Faculty of Humanities and Social
Studies, University of Zagreb
