Finca Sa Vinya is a Mediterranean villa nestled in an idyllic and history-drenched southwestern Mallorcan setting. An enchanted courtyard is filled with oleanders, orange trees, and lavender. An oasis of interlinking gardens and private hideaways gives way to formal and informal spaces that seamlessly combine to exude an understated, Spanish elegance.
Built over 200 years ago, the honor of fully restoring this historic masterpiece went to renowned architect, Miguel Arenas. For nearly five decades, he has been the head of a distinguished architecture and urban planning studio in Mallorca and Ibiza, specializing in exclusive home design and development.
With over 45 years of experience, Arenas tackles his projects with enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of all aspects of architecture.
“I shoot for perfection in each and every job, and that level of perfection can only be achieved if you understand architecture as a way of life and of relating to society and your surroundings,” he states.
The Art of Preserving History for the Future.
In Spain, architecture that is considered part of the National Cultural Heritage is protected and therefore, cannot be disturbed.
“It’s our responsibility to leave something better for future generations. In this way, a lot of things are happening in Mallorca to protect the beautiful architecture in the village and towns,” Arenas explains. “We have very beautiful houses that were built in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries. They are protected. We give that to the future generations.”
Finca Sa Vinya fell under that protection, which made the restoration of the roof and courtyard for Arenas and his team a comprehensive project. The floors were reinforced with wooden beams. Walls were restored with stones from quarries on the island, which were also incorporated into the interiors.
“The only thing that is completely new is the pool,” he points out. But, even this addition has consideration for its surroundings.
“Sa Vinya is a typical ‘finca’ [ranch or country estate], a house that is integrated with the land,” he says. “If you look how the pool is designed, everything you see is green, and then there is water. We designed it in a way that the grass arrives just to the water. We set the pool in the middle of the field so it looks like part of the landscape.”
Leaving No Stone Unturned.
Finca Sa Vinya was built in a time when things were quite different, and Arenas meticulously preserved the history of the estate.
“They used to have more olive trees that they would harvest, but there was a fire in the ‘40s or ‘50s. You can still see some of the stones are black,” he says. “We left the stones. That is part of the history.”
Even though the estate was built long before today’s modern luxuries, its architecture was cleverly engineered. One of the biggest examples of this traditional architecture is found in its open-air courtyard, which is surrounded by the home itself.
“The design makes the air circulate. Through the courtyard, you can ventilate the house,” Arenas explains. “What we call ‘air conditioning,’ these houses do not need it. Just open the windows and the wind is blowing in the house.” While two centuries ago the design was sufficient to keep the home cool, Arenas added modern air conditioning to the home as part of the restoration.
The Great Things.
When asked his favorite part of Finca Sa Vinya, Arenas doesn’t hesitate.
“The courtyard is the heart of the house. A lot of things can happen — a dinner, a party, a nice evening, relaxed conversation. You can even be here with proper coats in winter with a fire going like in the old days,” he says. “Through the windows and openings, you can see outside. It’s not claustrophobic. It’s a very nice proportion. It can fit two people or a few dozen people. For me, it’s the best part of the house.”
Arenas has been pleased to see an increase in protection and restoration of historical architecture.
“An archeologist friend once told me, ‘We need to protect our history.’ But ‘protect’ doesn’t mean to keep it like it was in the old days because, of course, the use of things has changed,” he explains. “That is what we are doing today. We find people who understand this and let us and our teams reform these properties. That is one of the great things that has been happening in the last 20-25 years.”
Finca Sa Vinya auctions without reserve on June 14th. The property is available to preview Thursday-Sunday, 2-5 by RSVP at 212.257.5174.