On the elevated plateau of Zlatibor, among mildly sloping hills, forests, and open flat areas, the ARBORIS Hotel tourist complex is conceived as a node within a complex network of landscape conditions and connections. The three circular volumes draw their inspiration from Stopića Cave, a system of underground limestone basins formed in natural circular geometries. The rationale of these concave forms served as the primary influence on the overall geometry of the scheme: distinct circular units organized around an internal courtyard, shaping a clear and legible spatial character. The building geometry allows for uniform, panoramic openings in all directions, redefining the relationships between architecture and landscape. The three ring-shaped formations develop around a central outdoor core, creating a kind of protected “hollow.” The circular courtyards function as vertical light wells while simultaneously extending the landscape into the interior of the buildings.
The extensive wooded landscape of Zlatibor directly informed the materiality of the project. The timber louvers of the facade imply the “rhythm” of the surrounding forest while providing solar shading and enhancing the energy performance of the building envelope. Integrated with glazed surfaces, the shading elements reflect the environment, allowing the building volumes to visually transform and acquire an almost landscape quality.
In a similar manner, the green roofs—providing outdoor lounging areas and viewing points—contribute both to the environmental performance of the complex and to the perception of a continuity across the landscape and the built forms. Although distinct in presence, the three buildings are integrated into the plateau’s ecosystem, emphasizing the natural character of the terrain.
The surrounding landscape is defined by a large water surface and extensive planting. The lake acts as the primary reference point, offering a calm, natural backdrop to the overall experience, while simultaneously contributing—together with the greenery—to a microclimatic regulation. The “hard” surfaces of the outdoor areas, composed of natural and recycled materials, allow for water infiltration, have a low energy footprint, long lifespan, and minimal maintenance requirements. Planting is organized into zones of varying character: shaded areas offer for resting points, open spaces for outdoor sports that are also capable of hosting events or open-air exhibitions. In addition, play and free-activity spaces are provided for children, ensuring that the outdoor areas of the complex respond to different user groups and accommodate multiple needs.
The arrangement of planting, the interplay of “soft” and “hard” surfaces, movement flows, and hierarchically organized “moments”, choreograph a continuous transition from spaces of social interaction to more relaxed areas, supporting a wide range of activities. Along these routes, a variety of open and sheltered areas is combined, allowing visitors to experience both the large scale of the landscape and the intimate scale of the secluded, protected spaces. The overall scheme does not seek to prescribe a predetermined path but rather enables each visitor to shape their own “journey” through a sequence of gradual spatial gestures. The landscape assumes a role equal to that of the buildings, “dictating” the way users perceive the architecture and its position within the natural environment.
The narrative is deeply embedded in a continuous process of “hiding”, “revealing”, and “engaging” between the user and nature. Within this interactive and creative approach, architecture functions as a mechanism of integration between modes of inhabitation determined by the landscape, movement patterns and views, constructing a coherent experience deeply connected to its natural surroundings. The dialogue between ARBORIS Hotel and the natural landscape of Zlatibor emerges as a primary experiential element, defining the way the complex is conceptualised and takes form.
