A house by Marià Castelló inspired by Ibiza's island culture

House designed by architect Marià Castelló

Ca l’Amo house in Ibiza

(Image credit: press)

last updated 11 October 2022

A house of five volumes designed by architect Marià Castelló has found its place in the terraced landscape of the San Mateo plain on the island of Ibiza.

The dramatic topography, where terraces of stone walls once defined for agriculture have been overtaken with pine and juniper forests, guided the design of the holiday house. It sits between two existing dry stone walls on a flat piece of land bordered by rugged nature, and it was a respect for the natural environment that drove the distinct plan of the house.

Architect Castelló, who founded his practice in 2002 in Formentera, has always been inspired by the landscapes of the Pitiüsas islands. As a result, his architectural work has developed a strong presence of serenity, harmony and precision, reflecting the character of the island culture.

This house, named Ca l'Amo, is formed of five floating volumes. The open space that weaves between them allows for movement, ventilation and connects inhabitants to the natural environment. The first three volumes of the series hold a large family living space. A pool sits between the fourth volume, an open yet shaded outdoor space, and the fifth which houses a guest annex.

Open plan space for social activity inside is furnished with custom-designed furniture, the Xamena sofa by Jose Gandia Blasco and Ramón Esteve for Gandía Blasco, and pieces from the D12 Collection designed by Castelló and Lorena Ruzafa.

The construction reflects the same openness of the living spaces. Materials such as the structural cross-laminated timber inside, and the exposed facade panels of thermo-treated wood outside express sincerity of form. While limestone terraces and paths connect the volumes through the landscape.

Like an island itself, the house is designed to be self-sufficient. While natural ventilation is enhanced by the design and construction, the house also takes advantage of the natural cooling of shade and vegetation. Plus a rainwater cistern that stores 200 tonnes of water.

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Harriet Thorpe is a writer, journalist and editor covering architecture, design and culture, with particular interest in sustainability, 20th-century architecture and community. After studying History of Art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Journalism at City University in London, she developed her interest in architecture working at Wallpaper* magazine and today contributes to Wallpaper*, The World of Interiors and Icon magazine, amongst other titles. She is author of The Sustainable City (2022, Hoxton Mini Press), a book about sustainable architecture in London, and the Modern Cambridge Map (2023, Blue Crow Media), a map of 20th-century architecture in Cambridge, the city where she grew up.