A Modern Classic on Formentera from Maria Castello Martinez

Amalia House is a lovely pure classic renovation of a 1970s building near des Calo des Mort, on the south coast of the island of Formentera.

Maria Castello Martinez has captured the peace and austerity of the traditional architecture of the island, but with a contemporary design language.

A very reduced palette of whites and off-whites and materials is used to blend old and new a capri limestone pavement, plaster coatings partitions, ceilings and other vertical walls.

Given the many restrictions of the original structural walls, the resulting harmony achieved is all the more miraculous.

In the redesign, the architect pays careful attention to how the building should come into contact with the ground.

In the debugging of the problems, these volumes are now sculpted into a fluid exchange between open spaces.

While the original lacked any harmony or cohesion, haphazardly designed in phases between 1970 and 1990, with random steps and floors and platforms with an unclear program, the architect has made these volumes add up to a real, solid, classic, harmonious space.

Now the Casa Amalia drinks in the splendid views to the sea from platforms and roof terraces.

The project could not alter the existing volumes, because the urban classification of the parcel on which the house is situated set a very restrictive set of parameters.

The main floor has two unified relationship spaces, in two adjacent, long, narrow spaces. This is the (living – dining – kitchen). Entering from the center of this wall is the (bedroom – dressing – bathroom).

On the left is the original wall placement, that had to be mostly retained.

The architect used a very unusual layout, placing the bedroom and bathroom in the center. The walls could not be removed, leaving a long narrow space. The bedroom is at one end.

The bathroom is arranged around and behind the central unit, unified by the all white painted MDF and laminated glass for most of the built-in furniture.

The toilet is at the other side of that interior structure housing the shower and bath.

Within these limits, the space opened up outside is a place of grace. These neoclassical pillars just perfectly frame the world beyond.

In the tallest part of the small building, overlooking a terrace, is the guest bedroom.

The architect has made the necessity of some sort of safety rail into a long writing desk, with a long view across the roof terrace above the two long narrow rooms downstairs.