The Brdo Villa is one of the most beautiful housing facilities in Croatia, while the entire estate of over 27.731 m2 (building plot) is a unique, self-sustainable complex, rare even by European standards. Yet, any and every description falls short, for only by seeing it can one can fully appreciate the value of the estate, which resembles a movie set, as its visage constantly shifts depending on the vantage point and the part of the estate being viewed.

The central, highest part of the spacious Brdo estate is the site of the main building with about 2500 m2 of space, an architectural masterpiece whose exterior, a façade lined with travertion romano stone, reflects the equally sophisticated interior.

The grounds are tended to the minutest detail: from the lawn to its stunning, supporting drywall, one of the most beautiful features of the exterior that reflects the superior architectural mastery of one of the oldest construction techniques in our region.

The private rooms with deluxe-class décor include the master bedroom, a spacious bathroom and well-designed dressers, tailor-made from finest lumber. This part of the house is the pinnacle of luxury that distinguishes the Brdo Residence, which may well be called a house of indulgence and sophisticated atmospheric aesthetics.

There is a professionally-equipped kitchen in the main house, which may be used to prepare meals for large parties. Refrigeration units, cheese and ham drying rooms with adjustable temperature, and dishes and utensils for food preparation indicate that the kitchen is designed for the largest culinary projects.

Guests are accommodated in suites with a 5-star hotel rating, in spacious superbly furnished rooms with bathrooms lined by yellow and white onyx, while designer fixtures and the best toiletries indicate a touch of class.

There is an outbuilding at the lower grounds of the estate, housing machinery and tools for the cultivation and maintenance of the gardens, orchards, vineyards, lawns and flower beds – from a tractor and mower to a snowplough. The expertly trained staff, with their quarters on about 500 m2 of the building's upper level, sees to the estate's immaculate appearance.

The entire estate has sophisticated protection against burglary and any invasion of privacy, from a liveried footman in the booth by the entrance to security cameras, alarms, surveillance lighting and an electronic alert system linked to the police station in Samobor and a private security service. Both the hosts and guests can feel completely protected from any harassment or trespassing. A special, fenced area is designed for watchdogs that are part of the estate's security system.

There is a room with a safe in the main building and the emergency evacuation plan has been instituted in case of need or unforeseen events.

There is a two-hole golf driving range in the immediate vicinity of the outbuilding, equipped to function day and night.

Both the hosts and their guests have the recreational-nursing part of the house at their disposal, with a large pool and a large movie and television screen by its side, a fitness gym with state-of-the-art equipment, a massage and cosmetic treatment room, and a Turkish bath.

A glass dome on the roof above the swimming pool lets sunlight in, while at night the space is illuminated by various lighting effects that users can choose themselves.

The Brdo Villa has a wine cellar whose 300 m2 are below a vineyard with vines of Pinot Gris and Green Sylvaner, planted with agricultural precision and covered with special nets.

There is a traditional wooden hut above the cellar, with about 100 m2 of rustic ambiance, suitable for hosting and entertaining with home-made specialties and the house wine and brandy. Its interior is decorated with construction materials which remained after the restoration of historic and monumental buildings in the wider Zagreb area.

The gentle slopes bathed in sunlight are dotted by indigenous fruit varieties, known since ancient times in the area of Samobor.

Various types of seasonal vegetables are grown on the estate's open and covered areas, in an entirely natural, nature-friendly manner.

n apiary with about 10 beehives meets all of the requirements of the estate that produces various types of honey, jams and preserves. The organic production of every ingredient is part of the healthy diet of the hosts and their guests.

An enclosed space has a small poultry farm with hens laying eggs and geese and ducks enjoying their own small pond.

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Housing culture is one of the most important segments of lifestyle. The location of our dwelling, the space in which we live and the environment surrounding us significantly determine our lifestyle in general. When choosing a living space, people consider their preferences, possibilities, familial circumstances and needs, aesthetic affinities and work situation. Some prefer living downtown, close to urban amenities and the urban tempo, while others opt for havens of tranquillity and greenery, close to nature, which is somewhat neglected by modern society.

Even though these are apparently opposing concepts and philosophies of living, the concept of high-quality housing, as one of the highest existential human aspirations regardless of age, occupation, origin, and worldviews, encompasses the universal human pursuit of comfortable and functional living and the best possible panoramic view of the outside world. Therefore, houses and apartments "with a view" rank much higher than those deprived of this important feature of interaction with the environment.

However much one wants to be protected and secluded in one's living space, the "modern-day cave", no one at the same time wants to lose touch with nature and the outdoors. This contact is mostly reduced to panoramic views that may encourage good spirits or flights of fancy on the proximity of nature's blessings. Therefore, among the categories of livings spaces, penthouses, terraces, balconies and other fixtures that afford a nice view – i.e., a view from above – command the highest price.

The key question remains as to whether the human aspiration for comfortable and state-of-the-art living offered by the achievements of this high-tech age can be reconciled with the desire to stay close to nature and all of its blessings and advantages. Can living away from bustling cities in an embrace of nature, offer the finest urban comforts based on sophisticated smart home systems provided in luxury urban houses and suites? Can country living, far from the urban jungle bound in asphalt, be promoted into a prestigious aesthetic and functional lifestyle category in the best manner of the English lifestyle?

Yes, it can; however, only in rare and exceptional cases. One such house, which brings together the most refined and complex lifestyle components in a harmonious intermingling of traditional elements and cutting-edge modern achievements, is located on Brdo in Samobor, at the altitude of 260 meters, on a rise next to a hundred year-old forest that offers a dash of freshness on hot summer days.

The Brdo Residence is 25 minutes drive from Zagreb, 25 minutes from the Franjo Tuđman Airport, 5 minutes from the Slovenian border, 2 minutes from the centre of

the picturesque town of Samobor, about an hour from the Austrian and Italian borders and from the Adriatic Sea. Its location is ideal – at a busy intersection, yet entirely secluded from the hectic pace and unavoidable tension of urban life. Its location is ideal – at a busy intersection, yet entirely secluded from the hectic pace and unavoidable tension of urban life.