House in the Balearic Islands
A place to be offline
Our daily lives are becoming increasingly fast-paced and digital. We are constantly connected and always within reach, making places where life slows down increasingly important. This house in the Balearic Islands offers a counterbalance: a place to step away, with room for quiet, nature and the rhythms of the day.
Client
Private
Year
2020 - 2024
Type
Residential
Photos
Alexander Elwin, Frank Penders, among others
Gross floor area
370 m2
Collaboration
Client and design collaboration: Labritja Botanica
Design and fabrication of steel staircase: Studio Frank Penders
Address
Team
Lead architect: Dafne Wiegers. Team: Siân McGrath
Unexpected behind traditional walls
At first glance, the house appears to be a natural part of the island’s traditional architecture. But behind this familiar appearance are unexpected contemporary interventions. Old and new coexist throughout the house, sometimes almost imperceptibly, and at other times deliberately on display.
A spiral staircase without a central column
The steel spiral staircase, by Studio Frank Penders, is constructed without the usual central column. The steps support one another, together forming a single self-supporting structure that allows the staircase to stand as a freestanding object within the space. This combination of structural ingenuity and spatial simplicity was awarded the Dutch National Steel Award in 2024.
The more digital our daily lives become, the greater the need for places that are physical, direct and uncomplicated. This house was designed as a counterpoint: architecture that does not demand attention, but creates space to be offline.
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