Mallorca has grand buildings and true architectural gems. But here neither the Cathedral nor the Art Nouveau and Gothic buildings will be spoken of. Instead, we take a look at exceptional contemporary architecture and its most famous builders.
Contents
Can Lis and Can Feliz by Jørn Utzon
“Can Lis” constructed by Jørn Utzon
Source: Torben Eskerod
Not everyone knows that the Danish architect and builder of the Sydney Opera House, Jørn Utzon has lived many years with his family in Mallorca and has created two monuments here.
As one of the most important architects of the 20th century, he has left his mark on the world, and also designed two houses in the southeast of the island: Can Lis on the coast between Porto Petro and the Mondragó Nature Reserve and Can Feliz inland at Horta.
Built in 1972 Can Lis is named after Utzon’s wife, to whom he has been married for 66 years. The property acts as an extension of the rocky coast, because it is built completely from natural sandstone blocks. Just steps away from the abyss, enthroned above the sea, the view is fantastic, not least because of the huge windows. One of the many features: the windows are installed from the outside and – provided they are cleaned to a mirror finish – can barely be identified from the inside. The interior appears as the outside and the outside like the inside, as if the architect intended to live outdoors, but with a (stone) roof over his head. Marés, Majorca’s traditional light sandstone, can be seen wherever you look; the sofas and tables, shelves and cabinets, and the beds all have natural stone brickwork. But the wind and weather has not only made the building structure strong, but also the architect who after this coastline experience went on to build a second house in the island centre.
Inside view of the architectural masterwork “Can Lis”
Image Source: Torben Eskerod
For rent: the house of the architect
Can Lis remains: Utzon’s son Kim, also an architect and head of the Uzton Foundation in Aalberg has renovated it. Since then, the Foundation uses it as a study centre for architects and scholars from all over the world during the spring and autumn. If you are interested you can visit the website www.canlis.dk as five days have already been announced for the summer 2015. And on request it can be rented in the unoccupied times for a longer stay.
The second “happy” house
Since Can Lis has been transformed into a place of pilgrimage for lovers of architecture since Utzon lived here with his family, he went on to built Can Feliz in 1994. Even this example of his style is built entirely of sandstone and offers fantastic views, as it was created with different levels. It fits into the landscape in a way that corresponds to Utzon’s philosophy:
“It is up to you whether you are open to the nature of things or whether you endlessly strive for the perfect shape.”
The estate of the 2008 deceased architect is today owned by Utzon’s daughter Lin, a ceramic designer.
Modern architecture as art sites
Another pearl of modern architecture is the Studio Weil in Puerto de Andratx. The American artist Barbara Weil has developed and built this asymmetric, completely white building in collaboration with the renowned architect Daniel Liebeskind. Her abstract expressionist works served as inspiration for Libeskind’s architectural design, in which a system of concentric circles plays a special role. The studio and the exhibition rooms of this remarkable studio are worth a visit: Every Saturday and Sunday 11.30-14 and 16-18 clock (Cami de Sant Carles 20, Port d’Andratx towards La Mola, information at www.studioweil.com) ,
Other artistic areas in Mallorca are captivating not only because of their art, but also because of their construction. For example, the foundation of the artist couple Yannick and Ben Jakober in Es Mal Pas (Alcúdia). The main building of Sa Bassa Blanca was designed in the Hispanic-Moorish style of Hassan Fathy. The Egyptian architect was already 78 years old at the time of the project and had never built in Western Europe. Not only the fabulous enchanted-looking building is unique, but also the “aljibe”: an old, underground water reservoir, which was rebuilt in 1994 as the showroom for the world’s largest collection of historical children’s portraits.
Great art in magnificent buildings
It is not surprising that artists and architects that engage in extraordinary buildings like to build themselves a decent studio. This is also true for the Pilar i Joan Miró foundation in Cala Major in Palma. The actual workshop Miró, the studio Sert, was designed in 1956 in the style of Le Cobusier of Miró’s architect friend Josep Lluís Sert. In 1992 the most famous Spanish architect Rafael Moneo extended the workshop to present the Miró Museum. Both buildings are inside and out a must for art and architecture fans.
Studio Miró. Built by the famous, spanish architect Josep Lluís Sert
And here the art and architecture make a remarkable duo: Two of the currently known architects of the island – Jaime and Luís García Ruiz – were responsible for the 2004 inaugurated, Es Baluard Museum. The brothers, together with two other Mallorcan architects have increased the historic bulwark “Sant Pere” from the 16th century avant-garde by over 5,000 sqm. So also Mallorca’s most important museum of contemporary art is a real highlight for contemporary architecture and a successful fusion of the ancient and modern.