Set into the mountainside on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca, this remarkable house by OHLAB is designed to quietly disappear into its natural surroundings.
Rather than imposing itself on the landscape, the architecture follows the natural slope of the terrain, dividing the home into a series of interconnected volumes that preserve the existing vegetation and create a continuous dialogue between architecture and nature.
From its fragmented layout and open central courtyard to its textured terrazzo walls, local Binissalem limestone, green roofs, and reflective pool overlooking the valley, every element is carefully designed to create a sense of harmony with the mountain.
Set into the mountainside on the outskirts of Palma de Mallorca,
this house by Oklab is designed as a quiet retreat that almost disappears into its surroundings.
Rather than becoming another object in the urban landscape, the architecture chooses to step back,
allowing the mountain, the vegetation, and the changing light to take center stage.
From the beginning, the project was shaped by a simple idea,
to live with the landscape rather than impose upon it.
Partially concealed from the street, the house turns away from the city and the sea,
opening instead toward the mountain and the forest. Its southern orientation brings sunlight
deep into the home, while the surrounding vegetation provides privacy and a sense of shelter.
The architecture follows the natural slope of the terrain. Instead of creating one large building,
the program is divided into five distinct volumes, containing the kitchen and dining area,
living room, bedrooms, studio, and pool. These elements are arranged across a series of stepped
platforms that gently descend with the land, reducing the need for excavation, while preserving
much of the existing vegetation. At the center of this fragmented composition is an open courtyard,
creating a shared space where the different parts of the house come together.
More than simply connecting the volumes, the courtyard brings a piece of the mountain into
the heart of the home. Here, architecture and landscape become inseparable, and moving from
one space to another becomes an experience of moving through the terrain itself.
The connection to the site is also expressed through the material language.
Across the interior and exterior, tall terrazzo panels are made from cement
mixed with stone aggregates, echoing the colors and textures of the surrounding rock.
Their surfaces are deeply grooved and then manually fractured, creating a distinctive
geometric pattern. Rather than imitating the natural stone literally, the material offers
an abstract interpretation of the mountain, carrying its texture and memory into the architecture.
Light also plays an essential role in the experience of the house.
In the entrance hall, a circular skylight draws sunlight down from above,
creating a quiet moment of transition between the outside world and the interior. Elsewhere,
large openings frame carefully selected views, while the elongated swimming pool extends toward
the valley like a still mirror, reflecting the sky and surrounding landscape. The garden follows
the same philosophy. Native pines, olive trees, wild olives, and Mediterranean shrubs are
reintroduced with a low-maintenance, water-conscious approach, allowing the vegetation to become a
natural continuation of the architecture. Ultimately, this house is not about making
a statement in the landscape. Its strength lies precisely in its restraint. By breaking
the architecture into smaller volumes, following the natural topography, and allowing local
materials and vegetation to shape the experience, OLAB creates a home that feels less like an object
placed on the mountain, and more like a quiet extension of it.
