Istra Madre Botanical Retreat near Poreč with Natural Pool & BBQ

Istra Madre Casa Botanica is located in Kukci, just a few minutes from Poreč, designed as a house that does not sit next to nature, but within it.

At the heart of the house is a large biodynamic greenhouse that functions as a living space. Banana and papaya trees, along with aromatic plants, grow in a microclimate that shifts throughout the day and across the seasons. It is a space you move through, but also spend time in, where everyday routines naturally slow down.
Next to the house is a natural chlorine free pool, filtered through advanced systems and enriched with aquatic plants. It is not separated from its surroundings but part of the same ecosystem, so during the day birds and insects can often be seen coming to drink from its edge in complete stillness.
From the house and terraces, the pool is experienced in changing light throughout the day, while sunset turns the entire setting into a quiet, almost still scene where nature remains the only movement.
Above it all, a green roof follows the rhythm of the seasons and becomes a habitat for native plants and birds, while the house itself feels as if it continues to grow with its environment.
This is not a villa in the traditional sense, but a space where you stay within a living system. The sea, Poreč, and the Istrian coast are only a few minutes away, yet staying here changes the way you experience them.

Istra Madre Casa Botanica opens itself to nature in the same way nature opens the day.