Completed in 2020, Casa Fly stands as a testament to the innovative usage of traditional techniques in modern architecture. This beach house, designed by the renowned firm Beef Architekti, skillfully employs the ‘Pedra en sec‘ technique, a traditional stone construction method native to the picturesque countryside of Mallorca. In recognition of its cultural significance and historical importance, UNESCO declared ‘Pedra en sec’ as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2018. Casa Fly not only exemplifies this timeless building technique but also merges it seamlessly with contemporary design aesthetics.
Casa Fly Technical Information
- Architects1-2: Beef Architekti
- Location: Mallorca, Spain
- Topics: Spanish Houses, Stone Houses, Beach Houses
- Area: 402 m2
- Plot Size: 1150 m²
- Project Year: 2017 – 2020
- Photographs: © Tomeu Canyellas
- Source: Linka
The house is in harmony with the local architecture using traditional materials, techniques, and empiric principles. The stone facade continually flows into the interior in combination with the lime plaster “Estuco de cal. “
– Beef Architekti
Casa Fly Photographs
Text by the Architects
Mallorca is an island full of beautiful natural landscapes together with picturesque stone towns full of history and tradition. We came as unaware visitors who learned step by step how to enter the Mediterranean territory with respect to the vernacular architecture.
Our design reflects it using traditional techniques and materials such as stones from a local quarry. The stone facade is based on a typical design that can be found all over the island as a fence or retaining walls that are constructed using a traditional dry technique ‘Pedra en sec.’ This local design was declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2018.
Besides the aesthetics, the massive facade helps keep the house cool during the summer months and has a great potential for accumulating heat in winter.
The house respects the local conditions; therefore, it offers a number of natural shading or ventilating systems. First of all, the windows are pushed inside the structure to create shading out of the concrete slabs.
Folding wooden shutters are another natural heat prevention. They reflect the facades of traditional houses in Mallorca. Narrow vertical lamelas create a tender shadowplay in the interior, which complements the local traditional atmosphere. Spaces between the lamelas allow air circulation even while the shutters are closed.
According to current needs, the design proposes natural ventilation, which can be used locally or in the whole house.
Various window openings on each story allow the fresh air to come in and flow through the house up to the skylights, which provide vertical and horizontal ventilation.
The house is in harmony with the local architecture using traditional materials, techniques, and empiric principles. The stone facade continually flows into the interior in combination with the lime plaster “Estuco de cal. “
We intended to keep the background interior moderate, which allows the custom-made furnishing to stand out. Wood, local stone, and concrete are the dominantly used materials.
Each material has a specific role in the design. The wooden lamelas adjacent to the staircase create vertical axes or a “skeleton “of the house.
A group of handmade ceramic pendant lights performs a unique impression above the dining table.
And at the end, an abstract bronze angel statue faces the view from a position in the entrance hall.
The surroundings, together with the position of the house, create different views on each level. On the bottom story, you are visually connected with the neverending sea. On the other hand, from the rooms situated on the higher story, the beautiful illuminated city is visible during the night hours.
The city can be seen through the gap between the sloping terrain and pine treetops. The final third view is from the infinity pool, where the pool water continuously blends with the sea and horizon.
In the end, Casa Fly allows its dwellers to experience extraordinary moments.
Casa Fly Plans
Casa Fly Image Gallery
About Beef Architekti
BEEF ARCHITEKTI is an architecture studio founded by Rado Buzinkay and Andrej Ferencik in 2004 after completing their studies at STU Bratislava, TU Wien, and ETH Zurich.
We believe that carefully designed and built spaces directly influence people’s lives and communities using them. That’s why our works primarily focus on creating liveable spaces in all forms and scales, working closely with our clients. We believe that building durable architecture with a strong social acceptance is the best way to reduce the environmental impact of the building industry on the planet and invoke positive social change and innovation.
- Authors: Radoslav Buzinkay, Andrej Ferenčík, Jakub Viskupič, Ján Šimko
- Design Team: Helena Kučerová
- Local architect: 3de3arquitectes
- Project manager: About Living
- Construction company: Grupo Ferrá
- Carpentry work: Nadal mobiliari
- Landscape: Mallorca Eden Jardin
