Design Clarity has once again transformed heritage into harmony with Villa Riva, a 200-year-old Venetian villa reborn on the island of Vis, Croatia. The project balances the grace of history with the lightness of a modern Mediterranean retreat, delivering a space that feels both timeless and unmistakably contemporary.
Positioned directly on the waterfront — the local “riva” — in a small village overlooking the Adriatic, Villa Riva embodies the quiet luxury of coastal life. The four-storey stone house sits in the heart of the old town, facing the harbour and open sea. When Design Clarity’s Sydney and London studios took on its full renovation, the goal was clear: honour the villa’s centuries-old structure while introducing a crisp, bright aesthetic that captures the island’s spirit.
The result is a renovation completed in time for the 2017 European summer season — a project that seamlessly blends architecture, interior design, and project management. Every level of the house was reimagined, every view maximised, and every detail tuned to the rhythm of seaside life. The new design radiates calm through a carefully limited palette of white timber floors, natural materials, and generous light, turning the historic villa into a serene escape for guests and owners alike.
A Four-Level Reawakening
Ground Floor: Arrival and Welcome
The redesign began at entry level, where function and hospitality meet. A compact welcome bar greets visitors with a chilled drinks fridge, introducing the tone of easy elegance that runs through the home. The layout was improved with the addition of a new ensuite bedroom, giving flexibility for guests who prefer direct access to the village streets and waterfront.
Middle Floors: Comfort and Craft
Two main bathrooms occupy the central floors and were rebuilt from the ground up. Their Italian encaustic tiled floors bring subtle colour and pattern, contrasting against handcrafted solid timber vanities. The shower experience was elevated with the Methven Aurajet Aio system from New Zealand, known for its refined pressure and water efficiency. Across these levels, three bedrooms retain the rhythm of the original structure while gaining the light, fresh character of a contemporary island home.
Top Floor: Light, View, and Connection
Perhaps the boldest change was relocating the kitchen to the top floor. Now, cooking and entertaining happen against the backdrop of the Adriatic horizon. The kitchen opens directly to a dining terrace framed by stone balustrades and blue water views — a decision that makes the social life of the villa flow naturally from interior to exterior. This upper level defines the villa’s new identity: effortless, open, and perfectly attuned to its surroundings.
The Material Language
Throughout the house, white-painted timber floorboards unify spaces, amplifying natural light and reinforcing the sense of continuity between rooms. Design Clarity avoided any heavy ornamentation, relying instead on proportion, texture, and a disciplined use of tone. The palette of soft whites, pale woods, and linen finishes enhances the airy island aesthetic without slipping into resort cliché.
Bathrooms draw inspiration from Italian craftsmanship, combining tactile encaustic tiles with warm timber and minimal hardware. Bedrooms maintain simplicity — light walls, exposed beams, and neutral textiles — allowing the natural scenery to serve as decoration. This approach keeps attention where it belongs: on the relationship between inside and outside, shadow and sun.
Context and Collaboration
This project also demonstrates how Design Clarity’s international studios collaborate across distance and culture. The Sydney and London teams worked jointly on design, detailing, and delivery, merging global perspective with the local craft traditions of the Dalmatian coast. The result respects the vernacular architecture — thick stone walls, wooden shutters, and intimate proportions — while updating it for today’s lifestyle.
A Contemporary Classic
Villa Riva exemplifies Design Clarity’s broader philosophy: modern design rooted in place. The renovation is neither nostalgic nor intrusive; it distils the villa’s heritage into a refined, livable statement. The interplay of light, proportion, and restraint makes this project a reference for designers seeking to bring new life to old walls.
From the entry bar to the terrace kitchen, from encaustic floors to whitewashed beams, every decision speaks of thoughtful reinvention. Villa Riva now stands as a bridge between centuries — proof that design can preserve history not by freezing it, but by allowing it to breathe anew on the Adriatic shore.
