Bursts of colour transforms a centuries old farmhouse into a family escape
Bursts of colour and a contemporary renovation transform a centuries old farmhouse into a family retreat
Mallorca is known for its spectacular landscape and this is especially true of the spot where this country house stands. Its rural setting – an area called Manacor in the south-east of the island – has a sense of time standing still. ‘The properties here are huge. occupying about 100 hectares,’ says ramón garcía Jurado, the Madrid-based architect and interior designer who has renovated the house. ‘Their owners are very proud of this island retreat, and lavish the utmost care on preserving them in the best possible condition.’ The approach to the house – an unobtrusive earth track – is dreamlike and, beyond its boundaries, a line of olive, almond and cork trees indicates where the path leads up to the house. aromatic scents emanate from here all year round. The villa is just a few kilometres from the sea, with the horizon visible from certain vantage points. depending on how the wind blows, the salty sea air mingles with the many smells here.
Built 200 years ago, the house was originally occupied by a farming family who lived off their crops and livestock. Their lives were basic and solitary. But a few years ago, their descendants put the house on the market, selling to a Madridbased family who were looking for a summer and weekend retreat. The house had to be entirely renovated. ‘The laws on construction and alterations to houses on the island are very strict,’ says ramón. ‘Months passed before we could set the
project in motion. all details, materials and volumes were vetted.’
The 500-square-metre house is divided into two floors. The living areas are downstairs and the bedrooms upstairs, and all the rooms have been restored in a way that preserves the house’s original, authentic Mallorcan spirit. a gothic vault lined with clay tiles, beams made of a particular juniper wood native to the Balearic islands and flooring with rounded stones, all protected by thick walls constructed from blocks of Mallorcan stone, add up to an authentic example of local architecture.
‘The homeowners are friends as well as clients, so this house has been designed with extra care and love,’ ramón says. ‘In our many discussions about the type of house they wanted, the same request kept popping up: somewhere you can hang out all day in a sarong and be barefoot most of the time.’ so the overarching concept was for a house that felt as informal as possible, while offering the right degree of comfort and sophistication. The floors are mostly made of a sand-coloured resin, which has a unifying effect and is easy to maintain. By contrast, the entrance hall has a spectacular textured floor made of pebble-like stones that has been kept intact.
When explaining how he created the interior, ramón talks about how he reconciled old and new harmoniously. ‘The house has a mix of colourful pieces by young artists, vibrant contemporary ceramics and corals and characterful furniture and artefacts – from Louis
XIII dining chairs to antique drums and african sculptures. These are combined with modern sofas covered in white cotton.’
Just as I am about to leave the house, the caretaker couple who look after it mention that the owners often spend weekends here in winter: ‘They hadn’t planned to, but they were surprised by how restorative staying here is. It’s almost as if it is their own private spa.’