Casa Mallorca

Mallorca, Spain

2017 AIA CC Residential Architecture Award - Merit

In Progress.

The project is located in a rural area of the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca between the villages of Algaida and Montuiri. The 18,000sm plot is surrounded by farmland with majestic views of the Tramuntana mountains to the North, the village of Montuiri to the east and a monastery set on a hill to the south. The organization of the house is based upon 2 narrow bars set perpendicular to each other forming a cross, maximizing the exposure and views to the surrounding landscape. The cross creates 4 separate zones to the house – the entry and living room to the South, service to the East, bedrooms to the West and a pool terrace to the North all surrounding an outdoor courtyard at the center. Each wing of the house defines the landscape into distinct gardens.  The driveway and entry garden are located in the Southeast. A formal sculpture garden extends from the entry court to the Southwest, the Northwest and Northeast are reserved for the less formal activities of the family, including gardening and children playing.

Gently sloping tile roofs give a striking form to the simple shape of the house, relating to both the surrounding landscape and the vernacular farmhouses in the area. The cross begins low at the southern and eastern ends rising to the north and the west to allow an upper story containing the master suite. Vaulted living spaces open up to the view of the mountains to the north.