Villa Sheherezade

True romance is rarely built in stone alone. It is planted in the earth, where it can breathe and endure. Villa Sheherezade, rising from the Dubrovnik cliffs since 1924, is a palace born from a Lithuanian entrepreneur’s devotion to his lover and a monument to such romance. Often described as an extravagant merge of two worlds, it stands today as one of the most exclusive residences on the Adriatic, a place where history, romance, and a touch of the exotic collide.

Surrounded by over 4,200 square meters of terraces, the villa is a silent witness to Dubrovnik’s maritime soul. The city’s history of seafaring brought back a wealth of vegetation from the far corners of the world, creating a botanical tapestry that is as rich as it is structured.

Our challenge was not to reinvent this garden, but to find a way to whisper within its silence. To add value to a space that is already so defined requires a certain kind of humility and an intervention that is subtle yet significant. We looked to the surrounding context for inspiration and found it in the retelling of the legendary tale of two lovers. Referencing Aladdin’s dream, we transformed a large, imposing wall into a living tribute to Princess Jasmine. By filling the space with the delicate scent and white blooms of jasmine, we created a sensory reminder of the princess herself, making sure that it tells a love story that time can never erase, only refine.