Mallorca’s House MM attracts attention for all the right reasons. Created by local firm Ohlab, headed by Paloma Hernaiz and Jaime Oliver, it is gently nestled within a hillside in Palma, yet its modern white form creates a clean contrast to the natural, rocky and verdant surroundings.
‘The clients are a recently retired couple who wanted a house with a quiet atmosphere,’ explain the architects. ‘Their main requirement was to be able to enjoy the garden and the incredible views of the site.’ In response, Ohlab organised the interior program as a cluster of four ‘boxes’, which contain the kitchen, living and dining area, main bedroom and guest bedrooms. Each of these ‘boxes’ was meticulously placed within the plot and carefully rotated so as to ensure the best possible views and functionality for each of the rooms.
Take an interactive tour of House MM, Spain
The clients were determined to construct a ‘passive’ home; a structure that would be sustainable and feature several energy efficient elements. As a result, the property’s pitched roof was designed to collect rainwater that would fill two water tanks at the clients’ request; one would be used for irrigation and the second is reserved for personal use. The small structure is heated via an underfloor system, powered by solar panels on the property’s roof.
The interior of the 200 sq m home is clean and refined, using a simple, yet rich material palette. The white walls were paired with oak wood panels, seen on the doors and closets. Ohlab opted for locally produced green and beige hydraulic tiles to line the floor throughout, the traditional material integrating a touch of colour within their minimalist, contemporary design.
This grouping includes four volumes, which contain the kitchen, living and dining area, main bedroom and guest bedrooms
The structure sits effortlessly on the hillside, but at the same time strikes a bold contrast with its natural surroundings
Each of these ‘boxes’ was carefully placed within the plot and rotated so as to ensure the best possible views and functionality
The clean and refined interiors showcase a simple, yet rich material palette
White walls are complemented by timber details, in window frames and doors
At the same time, locally produced green and beige hydraulic tiles line the floor throughout, adding a touch of colour
The minimalist design also includes several eco-friendly features, such as underfloor heating, powered by solar panels on the property’s roof
The combination of modern sustainable features and traditional materials create a welcome balance, while the green tiles link the minimalist space visually to the green nature outside
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Ohlab website
-
Here’s what to order (and admire) at Carbone LondonNew York’s favourite, and buzziest, Italian restaurant arrives in the British capital, marking the brand’s first expansion into Europe
-
Griffin Frazen on conceiving the cinematic runway sets for New York label Khaite: ‘If people feel moved we’ve succeeded’The architectural designer – who helped conceive the sets for ‘The Brutalist’ – collaborates with his wife Catherine Holstein on the scenography for her Khaite runway shows, the latest of which took place in NYFW this past weekend
-
How to travel meaningfully in an increasingly generic worldLauren Ho explores the need for resonance, not reach, in the way we choose to make journeys of discovery
-
Meet Ferdinand Fillod, a forgotten pioneer of prefabricated architectureHis clever flat-pack structures were 'a little like Ikea before its time.'
-
A courtyard house in northern Spain plays with classical influences and modernist formsA new courtyard house, Casa Tres Patis by Twobo Arquitectura, is a private complex that combines rich materiality and intriguing spatial alignments
-
In Santander, a cotton candy-coloured HQ is a contemporary delightSantander’s Colección ES Headquarters, a multifunctional space for art, office work, and hosting, underwent a refurbishment by Carbajo Hermanos, drawing inspiration from both travels and local context
-
This Madrid villa’s sculptural details add to its serene appealVilla 18 by Fran Silvestre Architects, one of a trilogy of new homes in La Moraleja, plays with geometry and curves – take a tour
-
This striking Spanish house makes the most of a tricky plot in a good areaA Spanish house perched on a steep slope in the leafy suburbs of Barcelona, Raúl Sánchez Architects’ Casa Magarola features colourful details, vintage designs and hidden balconies
-
This brutalist apartment in Barcelona is surprisingly soft and gentleThe renovated brutalist apartment by Cometa Architects is a raw yet gentle gem in the heart of the city
-
A brutalist house in Spain embraces its wild and tangled plotHouse X is a formidable, brutalist house structure on a semi-rural plot in central Spain, shaped by Bojaus Arquitectura to reflect the robust flora and geology of the local landscape
-
Antoni Gaudí: a guide to the architect’s magical worldCatalan creative Antoni Gaudí has been a unique figure in global architectural history; we delve into the magical world of his mesmerising creations
