Port Adriano marina by Philippe Starck, Mallorca

Busy harbour with mountains in the background

The Port Adriano marina is a pared down and elegant structure by Philippe Starck

(Image credit: TBC)

‘It is almost invisible,' says Philippe Starck, of the new Port Adriano marina in Mallorca. 'The architecture exists only on the second view. When you first arrive, you don’t notice anything and after a while you start to see.’ So don't expect a grand architectural statement then. It may have been designed for mega yachts, but there's nothing bling about Starck's design. Instead he has opted for a pared down, low slung and elegant structure that is home to restaurants, bars, a car park, fashion and nautical stores, as well as a marina.

The architect was brought on board by Antonio Zaforteza, owner of Ocibar – the island’s flourishing nautical-management company. Starck's love for all things oceanic and his experience in yacht design, however, ensured he needed little coaxing. ‘I cannot survive without the sea,’ he explains, adding: ‘I design mega yachts for other people, but I only have a small boat. It’s grey and incredibly ugly with lots of boxes of wine and mattresses for the children.’

Located on the south-west bay of Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, the marina has up until now been a rather disappointing docking space for yachts and speed boats. Inspired by his intense dislike for onsite car parking spaces, Starck’s mission was to create a structure that artfully concealed an underground car park below sea level. ‘I’ve seen a lot of harbours - they are all horrible. And there is worse - there are marinas. Marinas for me are basically huge parking lots.’

Instead Starck has created a clean, linear, two-level structure featuring concrete columns, topped off with a slatted wood roof and a striking staircase lit from beneath. Design details include street lights modelled on standing lamps, handsome numbered steel mooring plates and chic bollards. ‘When I design something I try make it so that it doesn’t become obsolete in 20 years,’ says Starck. ‘We are stuck in a ‘Kleenex’ society and the only way to work is to create timeless design.’

Blue sea surrounding boat harbour — Sited on the south-west bay of Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, it has, until now, been a rather disappointing docking space for yachts and speed boats

Stone walkway next to harbour — Inspired by his intense dislike for onsite car parking spaces, Starck’s mission was to create a structure that artfully concealed an underground car park below sea level

Harbour lit up at night — The structure's most striking features are its colossal concrete columns, slatted wood roof...

Lit up staircase at night — ... and the staircase, lit from beneath. To its left is the entrance to the parking lot

Lamp posts with lamp shade design — Design details include street lights inspired by standing lamps...

Steel numbered plate along the harbour — ... handsome numbered steel mooring plates...

Indoor seating area — Port Adriano is not just a marina, but also features a carefully selected collection of local fashion, jewellery and nautical stores as well as an array of bars and eateries that serve a choice of locally sourced fare

Dining areas with sea views — The interior of Sansibar restaurant, which comprises over 30,000 different wines

Open wood slated roof — The slated roof casts dramatic shadows on the decked terrace

Man in small boat — Starck makes a (not so) grand arrival to the Marina

Lauren Ho is the Travel Director of Wallpaper*, roaming the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website. Lauren serves as the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.