The Beginning of a Village’s Return
Perched in the mountains above the Bay of Kotor, Mali Zalazi is a place shaped by generations, then left to fall quiet. Today, it stands at the very beginning of a new chapter.
Set within one of the most culturally significant landscapes in Montenegro, the village was once home to families who lived in rhythm with the land, building in stone, collecting water, and shaping a way of life defined by resilience and resourcefulness. Over time, it was gradually abandoned, as roofs fell in, pathways disappeared, and the buildings began to return to the landscape.
This project sets out to restore its stone houses, pathways and shared spaces with care and respect.
Not as a monument to the past, but as a living environment where people will one day be able to walk through, stay, and understand how village life once worked and how it might inform a more sustainable future. It begins with a simple belief that places like this still have something to teach us.
The Vision for a Living Museum
Mali Zalazi is not intended to become a static museum. The long term vision is to create a living museum, a place where heritage is not placed behind glass, but experienced through real spaces and everyday life.
Traditional stone houses will be restored as functioning homes, pathways will reconnect the village, and shared spaces will once again invite gathering. Alongside this, carefully considered systems such as rainwater collection and solar energy will support a way of living that is both rooted in the past and relevant to the future. Visitors will not simply observe history, they will step into it.
the plan phase by phase
Phase One
The Welcome House, courtyard and village fountain, alongside essential infrastructure including solar power and eco facilities.
Phase Two
The restoration of two key houses, exploring domestic life and seasonal work, alongside guided tours and educational workshops.
Phase Three
Terraces planted with figs, olives, vines and lavender. A Diaspora Wall with family name plaques and a digital archive linking descendants worldwide.
Testimonials
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Be Part of What Comes Next
As the village is restored over time, a small number of heritage guest rooms are planned to open from 2027.
Early supporters will be the first to hear about future stays and opportunities to experience Mali Zalazi in person.
This will become a place to step away, spend time differently, and experience a landscape shaped by history and intention.