The View Mallorca interview with architect Tomeu Canyellas got me thinking about how Mallorca balances modern development with traditional architecture.
Some of the finca renovations on the island are extraordinary – managing to respect the original stone walls and proportions while creating contemporary living spaces. Then you have places like 110 Mallorca doing experimental design work.
For those of you who’ve renovated or built here: how important was it to you to work with traditional Mallorcan building methods and materials? Any architects you’d recommend?
We renovated a small finca near Sineu last year and working with traditional materials was non-negotiable for us. The local marés stone, the terracotta roof tiles, the lime plaster – these materials have been used for centuries because they work perfectly in this climate.
Our architect insisted on keeping the original stone walls as the structural core and it was absolutely the right call. The thermal mass keeps the house cool in summer without any air conditioning.
I’d recommend looking at architects who specialise in rural Mallorcan properties. There are some brilliant studios in Palma who understand both contemporary design and traditional building methods.