The gallery building and grounds were based on original plans by Meštrović himself, and included living and working areas, as well as exhibition spaces.

The building and its grounds overlooking the Adriatic Sea were designed to fulfill three purposes: as a family home, working studio and exhibit space.

[3] The gallery's mission, as defined in the first Statute (6 May 1958) are the "protection, collection, expert and scholarly treatment and presentation of the museum holdings and popularization of Ivan Meštrović's works and name".

[1] The initial gallery holdings contained 70 sculptures, specifically listed by the artist and selected to be placed in the museum of his works in Split and in the nearby Kaštelet-Crikvine complex.

In time, those holdings grew through purchases, exchanges, casting in bronze and stone sculptures from plaster models, and further donations from the artist himself, his heirs, and other donors.

Ivan Meštrović had planned the villa primarily as a family home and working studio, so the conversion into a complete museum space required some modification, while still retaining the original character of the halls and rooms.

The dining room on the west side retains the authentic character of the artist's home with Meštrović's furniture, paintings, and bronze portraits of the family members.