Restoring a crumbling stone structure in the Mediterranean town of Herceg Novi, Montenegro, was a labour of love—marked by patience, sweat, and purpose.
This picturesque coastal town is home to a striking 19th-century Austro-Hungarian residence, recently revived after a multi-year renovation led by the founder of Paris-based architectural studio Gray International. Located in the heart of the historic old town—an area protected as national heritage site—the building had long stood in ruin. Following careful planning and collaboration with Montenegro’s Heritage Agency of Culture and Preservation, Gray International team began transforming the abandoned house into a space for livin, socializing, and laisure. The aim was clear: bring 21st-century comfort while preserving the building’s original spatial layout and historical essence.
The rennovation respected the original façade and morphology, while introducing smart home technology, improved thermal and water insulation, earthquake-proofing, and modern ventilation—upgrades that make the home as functional as it is beautiful.Originally built in the mid-1800s, the house lacked today’s essentials like large windows, insulation, or efficient heating. Now, the west-facing side opens fully to the UNESCO-protected world heritage site Bay of Kotor, merging 65 sqm of interior space with a 60 sqm terrace to create a seamless flow between indoors and out.Its original stone walls, up to two meters thick, offer natural climate control, keeping the house cool in summer and warm in winter thanks to their thermal inertia and ideal east-west orientation.
Local craftsmen played a key role in the restoration, preserving the structure’s authentic charm. A standout feature in the largest of its four terraces, houses a restored “Turkish house” from the Ottoman period—once a viewing point, now a summer kitchen. Its brick construction makes it especially rare and unique in a region known for stone buildings. Today, this authentic home spans 300 sqm of thoughtfully curated interior space, enriched with artworks and designer furniture, along with 150 sqm of terraces—including the only rooftop terrace in Herceg Novi’s old town, offering 360° views of the mountains and the Boka Bay. Every detail of this restoration process, executed by Gray International, was deliberate—a masterful blend of modern architecture and timeless heritage. This was our first project in Montenero and the one that is a true legacy.
