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SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSE IN A FIG ORCHARD

SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSE IN A FIG ORCHARD

A modern self sufficient house near Santanyi, designed to respect the natural qualities of the site and its surroundings, whilst overcoming occasional floodwaters.
The design strategy focuses first on a long, continuous open-plan space which is organised into a sequence of different areas by angled walls and pivoting screens. Full height windows around the entire facade allow the interior to open out in all directions to the changing weather and seasons.
The second idea is to raise the living area up amongst the fig branches, a panoramic platform to look out from, full of light, sky and sea breeze. From inside, the house appears to hover above the natural setting at a discreet distance from nature whilst allowing the field and its occasional flood-waters to flow uninterrupted beneath.

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The open-plan living space is raised to first floor level zig-zagging between the existing fig trees, and allowing the ground floor to remain open to the field. The original use of natural and local materials establishes connections with the local context.

SETTING & SITE
The site is an organic fig orchard in the south of Mallorca enclosed by elms, wild olives and dry stone walls, part of a flood plane flowing south west towards the salt lakes and Es Trenc beach near Santanyi.

PROCESS
The construction of the house combines a variety of in-situ and prefabricated methods: reinforced concrete structure supporting a lightweight tiled roof on steel trusses, local and traditional lime renders on the facades, local terracotta tiling, and Galician pine flooring.
The choice of materials is as natural and locally available as possible, in order to reduce the environmental impact, employ local craftsmen with local experience, and providing finishes which improve with age, taking on the patina of the local environment.

THE BUILDING
The internal space is open-plan with an internal view of over 40m. Large pivoting doors and carefully angled intermediate walls divide the house into its separate uses providing necessary privacy as and when required.
Facing West: The diagonal axis enhances the feeling of spaciousness without appearing as a corridor. At the same time, the alternating wide and narrow spaces help to divide the rooms, enabling parts to be easily separated in winter.
The house by Harris Architects in Santanyi fits around and between the existing fig trees, with living spaces at the height of the branches.
The house is oriented towards the south and south west, taking advantage of the sun’s warmth in winter and capturing maximum cross ventilation from the sea breeze during the summer.

AWARDS
Winner of the Mallorca Architecture Prize 2007-10. The self-sufficient house in a fig orchard by Harris Architects in Santanyi creates a contemporary sustainable home in an ancient fig orchard.

The living areas on the first floor float above the surrounding field. The spaces open to all sides enabling cross ventilation an views in all directions

Full height windows of different widths maximise natural light at all times of day, creating a coherent but varied rhythm around all the facades

The continuous open-plan first floor living area with solid pine flooring and site specific furniture. Privacy for the different areas is achieved through carefully angled walls and full-height pivoting doors. The windows slide behind large plywood wall panels.

Southern facade

Interior illumination using individual light points focusing on large colourful paintings, and general lighting softened by open weave cane webbing

The materials and colours are designed to tie in with the colours of the landscape as well as echoing the context of traditional buildings in the South of Mallorca

The organic field in spring

The living area at the height of the fig trees. Northern facade

Front entrance

A family of Kestrels which has nested in the house over generations

East facade

awards

The project was awarded the Mallorca Architecture prize by the Balearic Chapter of Architects for the best individual house built from 2007-10

plans

Plan showing the first floor living areas, balconies and fig trees. The continuous space is focused into different areas through the change in orientation and narrowing/widening effect of the internal walls. The main axis allows an internal view of over 40m, continuing over the landscape beyond.

sustainability strategy

Site and Climate
The house is orientated to maximise cross ventilation from the cool daily sea breeze in summer. The zig-zag form enabled the house to fit between the existing trees without felling
Self-sufficiency
The house generates its own electricity and hot water throughout the year with solar and photovoltaic panels
Form and Massing
The form of the house enhances cross ventilation through the inhabited first floor as well as through the roof cavity. The SW orientation and large windows help to warm the house in winter; temporary removable blinds shade the glass during summer months
Passive Design
Orientated perpendicular to the prevailing sea breeze facilitates cross ventilation throughout the building. The ventilated roof space dramatically reduces overheating in summer.

Enquiries & Appointments

Harris architects & designers
t. +34 654 492 272 / sebastian@harchitects.com

C/ SANTIAGO RUSIÑOL 5,
PALMA DE MALLORCA
ISLAS BALEARES