The pioneering Fajferica ecological farm for black pigs, created by Croatian designers SKROZ, has just been nominated for the prestigious Viktor Kovačić award for 2021 by the Association of Croatian Architects. The building is not only notable for its function, but also the fact that was built by Croatian football legend Domagoj Vida in his native Slavonia.
The international centre-back and his old schoolmates are behind the brand Sin Ravnice – OINK, producing the traditional spicy kulen salami for which Slavonia is famed, among other cured meats. These can be found on the menus of top Croatian restaurants such as Pellegrini in Šibenik.
Moving away from the usual investments footballers make toward the end of their careers – bars, nightclubs, restaurants – Vida and his schoolmates launched into an entirely new venture despite their lack of agricultural experience. ‘Son of the Plains’ oversees a model eco farm whose premium products come from the Black Slavonian variety of pig.
More suited to outdoor farming and foraging for food, the breed first appeared in the 1800s on the estate of Count Karl Pfeiffer near Osijek. Its size and lifestyle are said to be perfect for the type of meat used in kulen sausage.
Fajferica is one of several groundbreaking farms designed by SKROZ, also responsible for acclaimed Kokošvaroša, where chickens are raised at Rakov Potok outside Zagreb.