Residential SERIES  •  Project FEATURE

A Self-Sufficient Retreat – Ca na Joaneta by Different Desing

Ca na Joaneta is a self-sufficient retreat located on a 5,500 m² plot between the towns of Ariany and Maria de la Salut in the iconic “Pla de Mallorca” landscape. This project focuses on reconstructing an isolated single-family home on rustic land, preserving the essence and proportions of the original structure while adapting it to contemporary needs.

Only materials from the original structure and vernacular resources were used to shape this small, sustainable refuge. The building rests on the footprint of the original masonry walls, over a century old, which has influenced the functional layout and adjacent spaces. This small family retreat is camouflaged among the trees, invisible from the access road and unnoticed by the nearby village.

]: "The architectural challenge was to ensure the design integrated seamlessly with the natural and built environment, respecting the landscape, flora, and fauna."

Inside, the daytime areas are in an open space designed to bring the whole family together. Taking advantage of the generous height of the existing structure, a wooden mezzanine on the second level houses the nighttime area. The adjacent outdoor space creates a new outdoor living room, a space between the stone refuge and the green nature, oriented south to provide pleasant conditions for both winter and summer days.

This autonomous building is disconnected from the electrical grid, incorporating sustainable technologies for self-sufficiency, including rainwater harvesting and a photovoltaic generation system composed of solar panels, a charge controller, an inverter, and solar batteries.

The architectural preexistences allowed for efficient integration of active systems without altering the design and functionality. Its perfect southern orientation enables optimal sun exposure throughout the year, and the large sloping roof surface allows for effective rainwater channeling.

The use of local and natural materials is prioritized to harmonize with the environment, reducing environmental impact and transportation costs. The most characteristic architectural element is the rehabilitation of the local stone masonry walls that form the building's load-bearing structure.

The main design challenge was to ensure it integrated appropriately with the natural and built environment, respecting the landscape, flora, and fauna. The design mimics the surroundings, minimizing terrain alterations and incorporating existing vegetation into the design, protecting native trees and plants, and planning around them rather than removing them.

Innovative design solutions were implemented, such as integrating bioclimatic principles to maximize interior comfort by utilizing natural resources like solar energy and natural ventilation. A combination of passive and active sustainability techniques, such as proper orientation, use of materials with thermal mass, cross ventilation, and solar protection through shutters and porches, is combined with photovoltaic solar technologies and rainwater harvesting systems.

The client was very satisfied with the building's thermal performance and interior lighting despite the large stone walls. The skylight in the sloping roof, integrated at an advanced stage of the project, brings great luminosity to the interior spaces, which the client particularly praised. The rehabilitation of this abandoned house has brought life back to the immediate surroundings. New trees and plants have been planted, attracting fauna once again, enriching the architectural design, and significantly contributing to the health of the local ecosystem.