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Heritage building constraints forbade reorganizing rooms via a new
floor plan. "The layout of the ground floor of the monastery was quite
fixed," notes Rujana. "Luckily the Franciscan friars did have service rooms
even back then, like spaces for food storage or the cattle, which we then
used for our service rooms like kitchen or toilets. Most of the spaces are
so beautiful that they simply needed to be shown." The rooms occupied
by the friars—previously small and modest with one window and stone-
carved window seats for prayer or contemplation—are expanded but still
call for a kind of invocation. While steeped in sacred stone, the interior
is fashionably modern courtesy of Arhitektri's collaboration with Milan-
based furniture brand Paola Lenti. Furnishings feature simple shapes and
curves with bursts of vibrant color.
Spaces throughout the monastery feature historical Renaissance furniture
and contemporary art pieces from the private Thyssen-Bornemisza
Collection. Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, in fact, is creative director and
benefactor of the project, and she worked closely with Arhitektri in the
building's preservation. With her vision, Lopud 1483 is a center of culture
and learning in the mold of the ideals of Saint Francis. A place adapted for
events, retreats and other symposia.
One finds a gentle hand in the exterior, as well. The garden, while
aesthetically unimportant to the Franciscans, was renovated according
to their principles, with plant species and their placement thoughtfully
selected in accordance with the new function of the complex. One might
assume Lopud 1483 sent from above were it not already "heaven on earth,"
says Rujana. "You can be in the sun or hide in the shade of century-old
olive trees; you can find privacy in a secluded corner of the garden or enjoy
company on the roof-top terrace of the fortress with views to the endless
horizon and the neighboring islands. The sunsets are truly an amazing
experience. When you look around you become aware of the uniqueness
of the spaces and buildings around you. Your mind quickly floats away
into some other distant times and wonder what amazing stories those
walls could tell you." The scenario she just proposed sounds quite good.
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