Cala Sant Esteve, Menorca
Carlos Díaz
Alejandro de Olives
This project was commissioned to me by the trusted lawyer of the British colony on the island. A lover of architecture, he initially considered James Stirling. The English architect (a dear friend) argued that he couldn't dedicate his studio to such a small and remote project and suggested that I take it on instead.
Mediterranean architecture suspended over a deep cove in southern Menorca. Architecture with small windows where large openings are always protected by deep porches. A wide gabled roof shelters the entire structure. Arab tiles, painted in a very light tone to shield from the heat, follow the island's tradition.
It is a reference and homage to the naive neoclassical architecture found in popular cottages and the white cemeteries of Menorca. An intimate access patio lies behind a large gate set in a wall of marés, the local stone so prevalent in vernacular works.
Photographs by Mario Ciamp and Hisao Suzuki