refurbishment private property single house, sa rapida llucmajor, majorca
sa ràpida is a place where light is not merely “present” — it redraws architecture every day: sharp midday sun, deep shadow edges, a clear horizon, and salty air that lets materials age with honesty. this renovation and extension begins precisely there. the project is conceived as a precise evolution of an existing house, with the aim of creating a calm mediterranean living environment: open without feeling exposed, and anchored in the landscape through a few strong, deliberate architectural moves.
outdoors, clear frames and shaded zones define a new daily life. the pergola — visible in the images as a generous, white-framed structure — becomes the project’s atmospheric heart: a light ceiling of bamboo canes filters the sun, breaks the light into fine lines, and produces the distinctive moving shadow pattern that travels across terrace and façade. depending on the time of day, this becomes a protected dining area, an outdoor living room, or a quiet retreat.
the linear structure and the crisp geometry of the frames intensify the natural texture of the bamboo — a conscious dialogue between precision and crafted warmth.
the design works with spaces that are neither simply “inside” nor “outside”, but in-between: covered terraces, open courtyards, and framed slices of sky. this is especially evident in the views where the deep blue sky reads as a large rectangular plane between white architectural elements. these openings are more than formal gestures — they steer sightlines, define daylight conditions, and create a sense of breadth. they turn the shift between sun and shade into a spatial experience, giving the house an internal order that feels immediate and intuitive.
a central theme of the project is mallorca’s own material culture — above all, marès. known locally as marès, this sandstone-like limestone is characteristic of the balearic islands, especially mallorca and menorca. it was formed millions of years ago as organic remains and minerals accumulated on the seabed and gradually compacted into sedimentary stone.
marès contains a high proportion of calcite as well as fossil coral and shell fragments, which give it its signature tones — golden, beige, sometimes gently pink — echoing the island’s sunlit landscapes. within the project, this warmth acts as a counterpoint to the mineral clarity of the white surfaces: not as decoration, but as grounding.
marès has been used on mallorca and menorca since antiquity, largely due to its availability and its workable nature. the stone is relatively soft and easy to shape, which has made it central to the islands’ architecture — from cathedrals and fortifications to walls and large historic residences. a well-known example is palma’s cathedral, whose substance includes marès and whose survival has relied on careful preservation and restoration over time.
here, that tradition is not quoted nostalgically but translated into a contemporary language: the images show a stone façade articulated by a relief of elements set at varying depths. this creates plasticity, a lively shadow play, and a tactile quality that shifts noticeably with the sun’s position. the façade itself becomes a filter — not only visually, but atmospherically.
at the same time, marès demands respect. its porosity makes it vulnerable to erosion, especially in humid conditions or near the sea, where salt can accelerate wear. buildings that use marès therefore require particular care to preserve both structure and natural beauty. the project does not deny this reality — it embraces it. the stone belongs to the place, and its natural ageing is part of the building’s truth. marès is not a “perfect skin” here, but a material that carries history and climate — and with it, the identity of the balearic islands.
inside, the idea of reduction continues, yet with a warmer, more intimate tone. the bathroom — with its freestanding tub set against generous glazing — offers an almost landscape-like calm: light, horizon, and a minimal room that gives priority to the view. material contrasts are carefully balanced: a floating timber vanity with countertop basins and a broad mirror plane that expands the space without loading it with objects.
this is a quiet form of luxury, defined not by accumulation but by proportion, light control, and precise detailing.
overall, the renovation and extension in sa ràpida speaks of a mediterranean way of living that emerges from architecture rather than decoration: shade designed as space; frames that precisely capture sky and landscape; materials that do not “imitate” the island but grow out of it. and at the centre of this narrative, marès is far more than a building material — it is both symbol and substance: a piece of the balearic natural and cultural heritage that gives the project its unmistakable identity and allows the house to sit harmoniously within its mediterranean surroundings.
project: 1815
size: confidencial
construction area: confidencial
client: confidencial
location: sa rapida llucmajor, majorca
type: refurbishment single private property
team (building): jle
team (interior design): jle
team (landscape): jle
responsible architects: jle
