Our understanding of timber has shaped our approach to construction and the architecture embodied by Vita Nova today.
The KAGER story began in 1989 with Friderik Kager’s vision. Today, a new generation carries it forward, preserving the company’s founding principles and building on them with new knowledge, experience and a contemporary understanding of space.
From the outset, an understanding of timber has helped shape the way KAGER homes are built. Expertise in carpentry and joinery gradually developed into a distinctive approach that brings structure, architecture, materials and construction together from the very first idea.
Projects abroad, particularly in Germany, also played an important role in this development. Working in demanding markets broadened our knowledge of construction, project organisation and clients’ expectations, significantly influencing the development of our own way of working.
The first VITA NOVA in 2002 marked a turning point. It introduced more than a new structural solution: it was a system that enabled greater architectural freedom, open spaces, extensive glazing and a closer relationship between the house and its surroundings.
Today, this knowledge lives on in individually designed KAGER homes. Each new project builds on the experience of those before it, while bringing fresh insights to those that follow.
Early 70s
The roots of KAGER Hiša reach back to the early seventies, when the first experience in prefabricated construction was gained, with expertise also developed in the US and German markets. This understanding of timber, structures and precision craftsmanship would later form the foundation of our own approach to building.
1989
Friderik Kager establishes KAGER Hiša. Design and technical expertise, combined with hands-on work with timber, lay the foundations of a family business with a clear vision: to create high-quality timber homes and develop its own approach to building.
1993
The purchase of a production hall in Ptuj gives the company room to grow and develop. In-house production enables greater control over manufacturing, quality and details, laying the foundations for structural solutions that KAGER continues to refine today.
1996–2001
After early projects focused primarily on the German market, KAGER also makes a significant breakthrough in Slovenia. New projects and expansion into other European markets follow, with every completed home adding fresh knowledge and experience.
2002
The first Vita Nova is created, introducing the distinctive architectural and structural system of KAGER homes. Exposed timber structures, extensive glazing and open spaces bring structure, architecture, light and nature together in a new living experience.
2006 - 2012
KAGER expands its presence in European markets further. A company is established in Italy in 2006, followed by Switzerland in 2012. Working in different environments further develops expertise, processes and the ability to adapt to each project.
2016
Tina Kager takes over the management of the company, opening a new chapter for the family business. The new generation carries forward the core values and mindset developed over decades, enriching them with new expertise and approaches.
Today
More than three decades of experience, over 1,500 completed homes and projects across numerous European markets. KAGER remains a family business, developing its own approach to building and designing every home individually for its setting and the people who will live in it.
Our partners
Nature is integral to the design of KAGER homes. As the primary material, timber contributes to a healthy, balanced living environment by naturally regulating moisture and temperature. Combined with abundant natural light, it creates a home that supports wellbeing and a close connection to nature.
Every KAGER home is unique: we begin designing it only after visiting the site and speaking with the client. This ensures that the architecture and interior reflect each individual’s lifestyle, wishes and needs. The result is a home that expresses its owner’s personality and grows with them.
Vita Nova technology combines contemporary construction methods with premium materials and precise craftsmanship. The structure is energy efficient, with effective insulation and carefully designed measures to prevent thermal bridges. Prefabrication under controlled conditions ensures high quality and faster assembly on site.
Every home bears the mark of our experienced carpenters and joiners. Handcrafted timber brings warmth and character to the interior while ensuring lasting quality and durability. Skilled craftsmanship makes every detail technically precise and aesthetically harmonious.
In KAGER homes, we use natural materials with a low carbon footprint and a long service life. Our approach to construction is based on energy efficiency, waste reduction and careful use of resources. This is how we create homes that respect nature and take a responsible view of the future.
Large glazed surfaces open the rooms to their surroundings and let in abundant natural light. Inside and outside come together in a seamless living experience. As the main material, timber also creates a welcoming atmosphere and a sense of balance throughout the space.
Over more than three decades, over 1500 families have made their homes in KAGER houses in Slovenia and abroad, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Russia and Ukraine. Every house was designed in response to a particular site, way of living and the people who would live there.
Our aim is therefore to keep deepening our understanding of each site and how a house will come to life there, rather than producing ever more identical solutions. A KAGER home is conceived as a considered whole, tailored to its location, orientation, views, the client’s wishes and the practical conditions of the project.
We do not separate architecture from structure and construction. From the very first idea, we develop space, timber, glass, light, technical solutions and the way the house will actually be built together. Architects, engineers, production and assembly are therefore all part of the same process.
Our in-house expertise and experience across a range of projects allow us to support architectural freedom with solutions we know how to build to a high standard. We seek a balance between openness and shelter, light and privacy, and the house and its surroundings.
Behind every project is a coordinated process. Our team comprises architects, engineers and experienced joiners and carpenters who work together from the initial idea onwards. This approach allows the project to progress without interruptions or compromises later on.
Every project brings new insights. The knowledge gained from one house becomes the starting point for the next.
