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CLIFF-TOP HOUSE IN VALLDEMOSSA

Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana. This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

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SETTING & SITE

The site covers a roughly triangular part of a clifftop facing west along the Sierra de Tramuntana, perched 420m above sea level. The previous building, a narrow box, stood close to the cliff-edge facing onto the closest point of the precipice. This made the building seem both disconcertingly exposed, and uncomfortably narrow, its living spaces pushed against the cliff.

 

DESIGN STRATEGY

The design strategy focused on re-orientating the building along the cliff-top, maximising both the depth of the internal view through the ground floor and giving the garden an impression of spaciousness and distance from the cliff edge.

 

PROCESS

The project reused the previous structure, and part of the facade stonework, extending the building to the NW and SE.

The angular geometry of the W facade both breaks up the building’s volume, and provides different views from each of the internal spaces.

 

THE BUILDING

The ground floor is opened up, connecting different areas and enabling views of the horizon from the far end of the house.

Facing East: The new diagonal axis enhances the feeling of spaciousness, with an internal view of almost 20m across the ground floor.

The existing building has been substantially enlarged, adding to the structure of the existing house, to give accommodation which takes full advantage of the site, the views and the environmental conditions.

The internal accommodation on two floor levels, provides an open-plan living floor plus four en-suite double bedrooms connected by a concrete spiral staircase to the basement utility and services area below.

The new entrance extension is softened by the slanting angle to the street, the sloping eave and rounded corner.

The open plan allows both morning, midday and afternoon sunlight to illuminate the main ground floor space. Significant structural modifications were required to remove central columns.

The new stonework, an essential planning requirement, is tied into the previous stonework on the north and south facades. Balustrades and sheet ceramic window reveals give sharp definition to rough stone edges. Large shutters and windows slide within the wall thickness.

The site is within the UNESCO World Heritage area, consequently the sensitive urban planning factors have been carefully weighed in order to gain consent from the Consell de Mallorca besides the Townhall.



The materials have been selected to withstand the significant conditions of exposure which affect the cliff top site, both extreme winds and intense glare from the Western sun over the sea

 

 

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position on the edge of a 300m sheer cliff facing out to the west over the sea on the World Heritage coastline on the north coast of Mallorca.

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position

WEST FACADEWest facade

This project involves the complete reformation of a 20 year old house in a very spectacular position

WEST FACADEWest facade

sustainability strategy

Site and Climate
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Water
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Form and Massing
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Passive Design
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Wellbeing
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Environmental Systems
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Planning for Change
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.
Culture and Heritage
Total reformation of a coastal cliff-edge house in the UNESCO World Heritage Sierra de Tramuntana.

Enquiries

Consultations

Appointments

C/ Santiago Rusiñol 5, Palma de Mallorca, Islas Baleares
Phone : +34 654 492 272
Email : sebastian@harchitects.com

CONTACT US

9-18h (Spain) Monday to Saturday

TEL : +34 654 492 272

sebastian@harchitects.com

 

C/ SANTIAGO RUSIÑOL 5,

PALMA DE MALLORCA

ISLAS BALEARES