The chance to build a brand-new house in a village with a heritage as storied and well-protected as Deià, in Mallorca, doesn’t come around often. When it does, it’s to be hoped that the owners and architects are in complete agreement – as was luckily the case with this elegant holiday home.
Involved from the very start of the project, local architecture firm Moredesign helped its clients with everything from selecting the land on which their house was to be built, to curating the furnishings and artworks that complete it.
The property sits in the centre of Deià, on an enviably elevated plot (the last of the land available above the world-renowned La Residencia hotel) with views of the village church and, beyond that, the sea.
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‘We wanted the house to effectively merge with the mountain,’ explain Oro del Negro and Manuel Villanueva, founding partners of Moredesign, who, by cleverly rotating the top two floors to follow the topography, have created a house that opens like a fan, virtually disappearing into the landscape.
It was a difficult trick to pull off, and the team put its success down to the skills of local master builder Miquel Morell, who also finished the exterior in traditional stone, complementing the look of the ancient farmhouse of SonFussimany, which is located nearby.
Inside, true to Moredesign’s ‘updated heritage’ ethos, finishes include chestnut ceiling beams, lime-washed walls and floors made from smooth pigmented cement, recovered stone and terracotta tiles.
The upper storey is home to an airy bedroom suite with its own private terrace, while the children’s bedrooms and a cinema room occupy the ground floor, and a series of outdoor porches and a swimming pool complete the picture.
On the middle level, the living room, kitchen (with sinks carved from local stone and old elm wood cabinetry) and dining area spread out from the fulcrum that is the entrance hall and stairwell.
The latter also functions as a lightwell and, with its soaring proportions and all-white finish punctuated by a slender black-steel balustrade, lends the space the contemplative feel of a monastery.
Tille del Negro, director of More Decor (the interiors division of Moredesign), describes leaving the busy village street and entering an ‘oasis of serenity and calm’.
Austere, however, this house is not. Encapsulating a luxurious yet restrained architectural style, it is decorated with a refreshing lightness of touch. ‘Our clients wanted an understated elegance, but still a space that feels unique and playful,’ explains del Negro.
Subtle touches of texture soften the bedrooms, rounded shapes bring a supple quality, and natural materials, such as glazed ceramics, linen, woven grass and raffia, add even more tactility. The result is a holiday retreat that simultaneously cocoons and revives its fortunate occupants. Time spent here is truly restorative. moredesign.es
