Mirza and Belma Džomba opened the doors of their luxury villa in Labin to us, the story of the construction of which originated as an idea for a small, thoughtful project.
The peaceful and green hinterland of the tame Istrian town of Labina, surrounded by nature, olive groves and forests, was the former handball player’s first and only choice. Mirza Dzombe (49) and his wife, a law graduate Belme Djomba (41) when they were deciding on the construction of their new, luxurious vacation villa. They will enjoy it, spending their free time and vacations with their two daughters and friends, whose story about construction originated as an idea for a small, thoughtful project of a total of five houses, called the Villa Nareo project, which they started with their partners.
“The project consists of five villas – Villa Nara, Villa Arda, Villa Ruma, Villa Eora and Villa Orla, each of which has its own character, but together they form a harmonious and well-rounded whole. We chose the location very consciously. Labin is a quiet town, surrounded by beautiful nature, with excellent connectivity and proximity to the sea. It was this balance of privacy and accessibility that was key for us. The villas are primarily intended for rent, but they are designed so that we can stay in them ourselves. We built them all as that they are ours, without compromise,” explains Mirza, who opened the door to his new villa, which is spatially very clearly organized.
The ground floor is designed as an open living space with a living room, kitchen and dining room, which are connected into one unit, which naturally continues to the outdoor areas, covered terraces and swimming pool. “Upstairs there are four bedrooms with attached bathrooms, which we wanted to ensure maximum comfort and privacy, and the villa also has an additional facility with a sauna and jacuzzi, which raises the stay to a higher level of comfort,” explains Mirza.
The entire project is architecturally signed by Studio Mapa, which also designed the interior, while the supervision and coordination of the construction part was led by Pro Studio. This synergy was the key to the quality and consistency of the project. When decorating, it was most important for them that the space does not look like an exhibition piece, but like a place where you really live.
“The interior is completely signed by Studio Mapa, which designed the entire visual identity of the villas. It is a collaboration that has lasted for years, we have grown together through projects and developed trust that today allows us to realize such projects with clarity and without unnecessary compromises. This is in a way the crown of our joint work. I was strongly involved in the functional part and the organization of the space, while Belma was more focused on the atmosphere and final details,” he reveals.
The interior is dominated by neutral, warm beige tones, natural wood and soft shades of white. It is part of the concept, a space that calms and does not impose itself, but lasts, and their favorite part of their new villa is the living room that opens to the outside.
“That combination of interior and exterior was one of the key elements of the project, because this is where life begins. This is where we hang out, rest, and spend the most beautiful moments together,” says Mirza.
Their favorite details are those that are not intrusive, but are felt, such as the textures of materials, natural elements, lighting that gives the space an atmosphere. “I would especially single out lighting and working with materials, which was one of the most important segments in interior design,” he emphasizes.
Much of the furniture was custom-made to fit perfectly into the space, and the most important thing for them was that everything functioned as a whole, that it was long-lasting, practical and visually calm. The kitchen is designed as a gathering place and is easy to use. “The project has just been completed, so we haven’t had time to ‘test’ them with our loved ones yet, but we are especially looking forward to it,” admits Mirza.
The villa is surrounded by a beautiful outdoor space, the arrangement of which was just as important to them as the interior space.
“Terraces, swimming pool and additional facilities are designed as an extension of the interior, which gives the villas additional value and quality of stay. All this was recognized by our relatives, who praised all the villas, the reactions of our family and friends are great. People recognize that the space was made with measure, without exaggeration, but with a clear idea”, he concludes.
