Croatia wellness retreat

TREE ELEMENTS, The Sustainable Tourist resort In Croatia

Article from 2021, digitalnomadscroatia.com

When they think of Croatia, most people think of the beautiful coastline that’s made the country globally famous. In the summer months, millions of tourists swarm in cities like Split and Dubrovnik during the peak months, often unaware of the forests and mountain ranges only an hour away. 

Local entrepreneurs are increasingly interested in sustainable tourism in Croatia. Many young Croatians are concerned about climate change, but some are finding sustainable ways to fight it, with a bit of help from the healing power of the forest.

One of these young people is Ivona Ercegovic. This 32-year-old decided to buy four acres of forest and build a sustainable tourist resort made out of tree houses, far from the hustle and bustle of her hometown, Dubrovnik. “The idea has been bubbling in my mind since childhood, building treehouses and fantasizing about a place I would call my home. But I’ve never dreamt it would be this big, to be honest,” Ivona says.

 Starting a tourist project so far from Dubrovnik, the most prolific hotspot city in Croatia, may not seem the most intuitive idea, but this made a lot of sense for Ivona. “I wanted to move away from the coast, from mass tourism. I wanted to attract nature lovers and active travelers instead of cruise ship passengers and drunk youngsters,” Ercegović didn’t want to play an active role in mass tourism development in Dubrovnik. Also, she admits that the price was one of the drivers for moving her business XY kilometers out of the city. “For the price of my forest, I could not have bought a garage on the coast.”

croatia forest retreat, sustainable tourism in Croatia
Tree Elements is located in a magical forest

slice of heaven one hour away from the sea

Mountain ranges, forests, and rivers of continental Croatia remain secret to thousands of tourists who come to the beach and stay there. With an excellent broadband connection reaching all parts of the country, we hope future digital nomads will discover there is more to Croatia than the beach, and so does Ivona. “I aim for quality and pure, intact nature. Continental Croatia is gorgeous, and I want to help to put it on a map, which it deserves. There are so many things to do and see in the region. Plus, I am close to a river, and having any water source is bliss!”

Ivona founded Tree Elements, an eco-friendly retreat near Korana, the river supplying the famous Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO-protected attraction nearby. After 15 years of working in an oversaturated mass tourism industry, she felt drained.“One day, when I came home from a long and exhausting tour, I knew the time was right to start something of my own.” Her friend suggested building treehouses. “My best friend just said: “Why don’t you build treehouses? “And that was it. Like a sign from the Universe,” she remembers.

The retread is situated on river Korana

That was just the start. The location had no infrastructure, so she had to conduct power and water, build an access road, and turn 600 m2 into a garden. Unlike the three treehouses named after the three elements (Earth, Water, Air), the main house (Fire) will be on the ground. This will be a gathering point for the guests, where they can enjoy a breakfast made of fresh ingredients from the garden or relax in the beautiful library under the staircase.

Ivona was inspired by Scandinavian minimalist design. Each house will have a gallery on the first floor with a king bed, a pull-out couch, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The maximum capacity of all treehouses will be four people.

3D model of the interior by Nine Alpha Ltd London

sustainable tourist resort with focused on nature

The retreat will merge with nature, as all the houses will have sustainable features installed.

Heat pumps will be installed in every treehouse and the main house. These pumps use air as an energy source; they transform the indoor spaces’ outside air for heating or cooling. The pumps will also double as water heaters,” explained.

Moreover, a bio-septic sewage system will provide eco-friendly wastewater treatment, and biodigesters will process waste in every treehouse. Rain will be harvested through the roof of the main house. 

The effective roof area and the material used in constructing the roof influence the efficiency of collection and the water quality. We will install biodigesters to process waste in every treehouse.

Environmental-friendly materials will be used in construction. “We are talking about bio-architecture: all walls (including roof and floor)will be insulated with panels that optimize thermal performance and consumption,” says Ercegovic

Everything, from bed linen to food, will be organic and fair trade. Tables and chairs will be built from recycled materials and conceived by local designers. The salvaged house and barn material will be incorporated into the building.

All bathrooms will have water-saving shower systems, environmentally friendly paper (from copier paper and toilet paper to paper towels), organic towels, and low-water toilets. Composting material will be used for the garden while recycling bins will be placed throughout the property.“We will use all-natural, biodegradable cleaning products, while our treehouses will be equipped with natural luffa sponges for dishwashing.

Upon request, a toothbrush or similar products will be provided, with no plastic, of course,” Ercegović highlights.

The Treehouse property will not have solar panels due to a too complicated process required by the Croatian national power provider, but they plan to install them in the future.

Plan of Tree Elements by Zeljko Radisic

Croatia has a long way to go

Sustainable tourism might be on the rise in Croatia, but it is still a novelty in the areas where tourism is a predominant industry. ” It is challenging to be a responsible tourist destination in an overcrowded and overwhelmed tourist country such as Croatia, where we depend on cruise ships and mass tourism. We still have a long way ahead of us before we show the world there is so much more to Croatia than sunshine and the coast,” Ivona adds.

 “We depend on seasonality, meaning everything shuts down in November to reopen in March. That itself is not sustainable. But I have been exploring the market:  the rise of the tiny house movement and glamping sites in Croatia for years, so I see a shift. I see a lot of little fish – such as myself- in the pond, working hard to be sustainable, planting eco-organic gardens, providing quality, and being respectful to Mother Nature.”

The guests can spend time in the shared spaces by Željko Radišić

the healing power of the forest

Tree elements will also have a vital social aspect. Ercegovic wants it to become an eco-kind resort, a term she coined herself. “The idea of  ‘tourism for all’ is reflected in giving the treehouses for free to users of different organizations from across the country who help abused women, children, and cancer patients. In the 21st century, the emphasis is on the environment and sustainability, but what if it could include social input? And be kind to one another? That’s why I have coined the term “eco-kind,” and that’s how I want to run my business.”

kickstarter campaign starts in spring

Due to the coronavirus economic crisis, the bank denied the project the investment loan Ercegovic hoped for. Therefore, Ercegovic has decided to start a Kickstarter campaign in February 2021, aiming to collect 70,000 euros, which would cover some of the expenses.

“The campaign is reward-based, and the first 48 hr will be crucial. Since the number of rewards is limited, people should get involved from the start to get the reward they want. T If I do not raise the entire amount, people will get their money back.,” she says

One of the campaign perks will be a stay in a treehouse, with breakfast included, for a special rate. “The voucher one gets can be used anytime in the future.”

Other pledges include planting trees, building birdhouses, bee hotels, or supporting local artists; you can name a tree or adopt a vegetable plot and name a vegetable. You can sponsor a wooden bench, a wooden barn, a glasshouse, or even a huge wooden swing that will be placed in the middle of the forest – and a plaque with your name will be laid on it. ” 

Garden and glasshouse by Željko Radišić

digital nomads welcome

Last but not least, digital nomads will be welcomed with open arms in this sustainable tourist resort. “I want to promote my property as an artist residency, and digital nomads are artists in their field. Whoever wants to express themselves, learn, get inspired, and be a better version of themselves is welcome!” says Ercegovic.

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