100% DESIGN LONDON - DalCasa

Dvorac Trakošćan je najpoznatiji i najposjećeniji u Hrvatskom zagorju / Trakošćan is
the most famous and visited castle in Hrvatsko zagorje
Castle Opeka in Varaždin, which is owned by the Government
and which, besides the building itself, includes
a 60-hectre arboretum filled with various species of
plants and trees. – This castle, commonly referred to as
Bombelles, has been completely abandoned for over
40 years and it’s gradually falling into decay. Although
a study has been made, everything still stands in one
place, there is no renovation. Partial care is given to
the arboretum that could, with a little more interest, become
a wonderful public park – says Željko Trstenjak, architecture
engineer from the Conservation Department
in Varaždin.
Castle Bosiljevo has suffered similar fate, although it is a
target of interest by private businessman Siniša Križanec,
owner of Castle Bežanec. However, according to Mr.
Bežanec, local administration and their passivity have
“put the brakes” on the project, thus furthermore jeopardizing
the alarming condition of Castle Bosiljevo.
- It all started about ten years ago when I wanted to rent
Bosiljevo, but due to a string of complications, my contract
got cancelled and the whole case is still in court.
Considering the fact that I invested certain money,
which mounts up to eight million kunas with court fees,
I want to pursue this to the end. I’m willing to give up
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on those demands if we’re able to come to an agreement
to finish the castle because that’s in the best interest
of the entire area – Siniša Križanec says, and his Castle
Bežanec has been in business for years as a famous
hotel, restaurant and wine cellar, which clearly shows
that the owner has plenty of experience in succeeding
in such projects.
Renovation and Strategy Are What It Takes to Stop the
Ruination
Problems regarding the finalized ownership and agreeing
on the castle’s strategy are not the end of the road,
and that is proved by families Kajfež and Floegel who
are, each in their own way, fighting for the survival of
their enormous buildings that have certainly put them
through plenty.
Mrs. Lada Szabo-Kajfež spent seventeen years in Castle
Miljana that her late husband Franjo, world-famous
chemist and Croatian politician, redecorated according
to original blueprints from the 17th century. However,
she found out that living in the castle is expensive, up to
50 thousand euros per year, so there has recently been
an agreement in the family, despite their devotion to the
building, to sell their completely renovated Castle Milja-