renovation extension chalet portocolom, mallorca
In first sea line in Portocolom stands a house that still clearly carries the spirit of its era: a chalet from 1965, shaped by crisp cubic volumes, whitewashed surfaces, and that effortless relationship to the outdoors that is so characteristic of Mallorca’s coastline. At the same time, over the decades, the qualities of the existing building had been constrained by later insertions, small-scale room sequences, and a structural layout that only partially allowed for contemporary living.
Project 0201 was therefore, from the very beginning, more than a modernization: it was a precise architectural transformation—addressing the question of how a three-storey existing chalet can become an open, light-filled home that does not merely “have” sea views, but spatially stages them.
Architectural approach: preserving outwardly, transforming inwardly
Early on, it was clear as an architectural principle that the original character of the façade should not be overwritten, but deliberately preserved as far as possible. The project understands renovation not as a break, but as building forward within the existing fabric—respecting the established typology, proportions, the solidity of the white rendered volumes, and the house’s distinctive silhouette. Especially near the coast, this attitude is crucial: the place demands robustness and clarity, not formal arbitrariness.
In addition, the building is part of an existing context: as an element of a grown ensemble in the sense of an Aldea Ibicenca, whose architectural identity is based on a shared vocabulary—calm massing, reduced materiality, sculptural modelling, a play of Mediterranean light and shadow, and a restrained tectonic logic of openings. This integration was a leading factor in the design work.
For this reason, the intervention was deliberately implemented in a stylistically conservative manner: not as a nostalgic reproduction, but as a clear decision to protect the ensemble effect and preserve design continuity.
New interventions were integrated in such a way that they do not read as foreign bodies, but as a self-evident continuation of the existing order.
The consistent conclusion of this approach: the real transformation takes place primarily in the interior—where residential quality, spatial continuity, and today’s functional requirements lie. Outwardly, the stance remains intentionally calm—inside, however, the house is structurally and spatially rethought.
The key to generosity: a targeted structural intervention
At the center of the renovation was a construction decision that redefined the entire character of the house. In the existing building there was a single load-bearing internal wall, functioning as the structural backbone of the three-storey chalet—while simultaneously preventing any open, continuous spatial configuration. To overcome this limitation, a new steel structure was integrated: two beams and two columns have since taken over the load transfer and make it possible to remove the formerly load-bearing internal wall.
This intervention is technically precise and architecturally effective: the black steel profiles consciously appear as a new structure; they speak of the transformation and give the interior a clear order. At the same time, they create what was sought: a generous, continuous spatial zone that links living, dining, and cooking into one open whole.
Open living, dining and cooking area: space as a continuum
The new organization on the main floor follows the principle of “space instead of rooms.” The living area opens to the dining zone and further to the kitchen; sight lines interlock, daylight moves across surfaces, and the boundaries between functions become intentionally soft. Generosity is thus not created by sheer size, but by spatial continuity: a continuous volume, flexibly usable, socially strong, and scaled to the special nature of the place.
Windows and transitions were not understood merely as “light sources,” but as part of the spatial composition: the view outward is never decorative, but an integral part of the experience of living. Portocolom—the horizontal band of water, the clear air, the Mediterranean light—becomes the constant counterpart.
The cantilevered steel stair: a sculptural vertical space
Another key element is the cantilevered steel stair. It connects the levels not as a side issue, but as a spatial event. The construction feels light and precise: steel as the load-bearing spine, warm timber as the tread surface, and a clear line without overload. This creates a charged dialogue between the robust existing fabric and the new, filigree intervention. The stair makes the vertical space tangible—and it makes a statement: renovation does not mean masking history, but continuing it.
Materiality & atmosphere: Mediterranean clarity, contemporary precision
The interiors follow a calm, reduced palette of materials that carries the light and does not distract the eye. Bright surfaces, restrained flooring materials, and the consciously visible steel structure create an atmosphere that is both Mediterranean and precise. Furniture, built-ins, and details subordinate themselves to the room—not in the sense of strict austerity, but as a deliberate decision for clarity and longevity.
Refurbishment & extension: making the existing building future-proof
Alongside spatial reorganization, refurbishment was a consistent step to upgrade the building technically and functionally. Project 0201 therefore combines renovation, modernization, and extension into a coherent whole: a house that does not deny its origin, yet meets today’s demands for comfort, usability, and everyday suitability. Especially in first sea line, this balance is decisive: the place imposes particular requirements—robustness, detailing, and the way inside and outside are connected. Our design responds with a clear stance: durable, precise, and without effects that cannot be derived from the context.
Result: continuity within the ensemble, new spaciousness within the interior
Project 0201 shows how a strong existing architecture can be elevated to a new quality through a few targeted interventions. The structural reconfiguration with two beams and two columns is not merely a technical trick, but the lever for a new residential experience: open rooms, flowing transitions, clear order—and an atmosphere that gives Mediterranean light space.
Externally, the house remains part of the Aldea Ibicenca: the façade attitude is consciously conservative, the ensemble effect is protected, and the architectural identity preserved. Internally, however, a contemporary, generous way of living emerges—with an open living, dining and cooking zone, a sculptural steel stair as a vertical anchor, and a clear, robust material logic. Thus, the 1965 chalet becomes a house that does not only use Portocolom as a view, but translates it into a spatial idea: respectful of the existing building, consistent in construction, and open to life—with the sea as a constant counterpart.
project: 0102
size: 105 m2
construction area: 55 m2
client: confidential
location: portocolom, felanitx mallorca
type: single housing
team (building): jle
team (interior): jle
responsible architects: jle
