New build · 2023
Villa Son Vida
A new build on a slope: four platforms that follow the contour rather than fight it.
Son Vida, Palma
01 The brief
A plot falling 24% with views over the bay of Palma, under an ordinance capping height at two storeys above grade. The British family wanted a permanent residence with an office and self-contained guest accommodation.
| Location | Son Vida, Palma |
|---|---|
| Type | New build |
| Floor area | 610 m² |
| Completed | 2023 |
| Construction time | 22 months |
| Our role | Design, permits and site direction |
| Materials | Dry stone, board-marked white concrete, iroko joinery, green roof. |
02 The intervention
Rather than cutting a single platform, the house breaks into four trays that step down with the ground. Each holds one use, and all are threaded together by a covered external stair. Retaining walls are dry-stone — a local technique that also absorbs differential settlement in the bank. Overhangs of 2.4 m shade the south openings without needing shutters.
