Villa Sound of Silence

This project was photographed for the Spahija family, whose olive grove of 180 trees – from which the award-winning S Oil is produced – surrounds the villa and plays a defining role in its character. Villa Sound of Silence is set in the hinterland of Šibenik, in the village of Danilo, whose history reaches back to the Neolithic period. 

The architecture of the villa relies on natural materials and an open relationship with its surroundings, so the whole property feels like an extension of the landscape around it. Facade made from 110 tons of Istrian stone, Mediterranean planting, and the olive grove are not just a backdrop, but an essential part of the identity of the place and the way the villa reads through the frame.

The shoot took place at the end of June, in intense summer heat. The daytime exterior photographs had to be made in full sun, while the interiors offered a pause between the outdoor sequences. With a villa of this scale, careful planning was essential to cover every space and follow the natural rhythm of the light across a single shooting day. My focus was on the calm openness of the architecture — the spacious interiors, natural materials, and the way the house opens towards its surroundings, creating a quiet retreat shaped equally by the landscape and the design.

The evening photographs at the end of the day brought the whole story together, adding depth, atmosphere, and a particular sense of mood that is felt most strongly at that hour.