The finca renovation is practically a genre on the island. Everyone has an opinion about the right way to restore an old Mallorcan country house — and the wrong way shows up often enough.
A few things that tend to separate the thoughtful projects from the rest:
Proportion. Old fincas have thick stone walls, low doorways, deep window recesses. When extensions respect that sense of mass and shadow, they work. When they graft on glass boxes without understanding why the original building looked the way it did, the result feels like two buildings arguing.
Materials. Marès stone, local timber, lime wash, terracotta floors. These materials age well in this climate. Imported stone, polished concrete and huge format tiles can be made to work, but they need a very confident hand.
Gardens. The best finca gardens use what grows here — olives, almonds, carob, lavender, rosemary. Tropical planting looks out of place. Dry gardens suited to the climate are more interesting and far more sustainable.
Light. Mallorcan farmhouses were built for a climate where you want shade in summer and sun in winter. Good renovations understand this. They don’t open up every wall with floor-to-ceiling glass.
What makes a Mallorcan home feel right to you? Favourite architects or projects you’ve seen?