Twenty years ago, Halim Zukic bought a 173 hectare plot of land in a green valley near his hometown of Visoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He envisioned a sanctuary where his love of nature and landscape design could be made accessible to the public. But it wasn’t until 2018 that the businessman and art lover began replicating details of one of the world’s most recognizable paintings on a massive scale.
While working on the site one day, Zukic observed some of them tractor tracks that reminded him of the swirls and waves of Vincent van Gogh’s groundbreaking work from 1889: “The Starry Night.” With much motivation but less clear plan, he and an amateur team intuitively followed the contours of the land and made numerous adjustments over time to achieve visual and spatial harmony.
The elaborate design for Starry night retreatwhich uses lavender and a variety of other herbs as a medium, is mainly characterized by the absence of straight lines. The estate includes a 25 hectare park within the total footprint, with meeting places such as a natural amphitheater.
The project “honors Vincent van Gogh and those who courageously pursue their passions despite the sacrifices required,” says hospitality manager Merjem Zukić. “Sir. Zukic sees the retreat as a unique space where nature and art merge, allowing visitors to reconnect with essential elements of their being and stimulate their senses.”
Starry Night Retreat will open to the public next May. Find more on his website.
