Eight Wonders: design-led holiday homes around the world
Summer is well and truly here, which means we’ve got one thing in particular on our mind: holidays. Good weather, great food and glorious scenery might make a wonderful getaway, but nothing quite sparks wanderlust for us like a beautifully designed guest home. From John Pawson-designed minimalism in Majorca to midwestern modernism by Frank Lloyd Wright, we’re profiling eight spaces around the world that are just as extraordinary as their surroundings. Passports at the ready.
Merchant House High Desert, California, USA
A couple of hours’ drive east of Los Angeles is Merchant House High Desert, an artistic oasis set amid the rugged rock formations and the vast desert of Joshua Tree. The surroundings of this single-storey structure are spectacular, but the greatest delight lies within. The interiors have been designed by mother-and-daughter duo Denise Portmans, a former art curator and stylist, and Sara Marlowe Hall, an artist, who have carefully selected artefacts and furniture to complement the setting. If the slow rhythm of desert life fails to relax guests, then perhaps the outdoor bathtub and shower, plunge pool or tactically placed hammocks might do the trick.
Photography Kate Berry
Borgo Gallana, Puglia, Italy
In the heel of Italy’s boot sit three separate dwellings that complete Borgo Gallana, a collaboration between owner Giuseppe De Vanna and designer Andrew Trotter. The white-walled siblings share the same DNA: they have been minimally decorated with natural textiles, a neutral palette throughout and simple furnishings to suit the rustic surroundings. Ideally located within reach of the Puglian countryside and the sea, it’s a wonderful spot to visit alone or with friends, with yoga classes, pool-side lounging or long hikes on offer. At the top of our list, however, would be alfresco dining, with linen tablecloths and wooden tables. Guests can either whip up plates using the delicious local produce, or have a guest chef do the honours, which is available upon request.
Neuendorf House, Santanyi, Majorca
John Pawson fans, rejoice: you can holiday at one of his earliest designs, a remarkable pink-hued house within 30 acres of olive and almond groves in Majorca. Titled Neuendorf House, after the German art-dealer couple that commissioned it, the project, built in collaboration with the Italian architect and designer Claudio Silvestrin, was completed in 1987. Inside it’s quintessential Pawson: all stripped-back interiors, white walls and pale wood. Outside, the behemoth rosy walls look particularly peachy when set against a bright-blue sky. The holiday home also has two saltwater pools – one measuring 40m – a jacuzzi and a tennis court.
Photography Renee Kemps
Still Bend, Wisconsin, USA
“American family life is unlike any other in the world and I think this plan recognises it for pretty much what it is, a little private club, with special privacies, ultra conveniences and style all the while,” wrote Frank Lloyd Wright of Still Bend. Originally submitted as an entry in Life Magazine’s ‘Dream House’ contest in 1938, his architectural vision was brought to life when a local businessman commissioned him to build the red-brick house in his hometown of Two Rivers. Wright went on to meticulously design every element of the midwestern gem, from the tables and bedside lamps to the fruit bowls. Today, the modernist house is the perfect rental for those in search of a forest retreat, with an open fire for cosy evenings, as well as access to Wisconsin’s bountiful outdoor pursuits.
Solo Office, Matarraña, Spain
The brainchild of two unlikely collaborators, property developer Christian Bourdais and art producer Eva Albarran, Solo Office in Matarraña offers its guests the chance to nestle in a secluded concrete oasis that rises above the tall pines of rural Eastern Aragon. Settled within the 100-hectare Los Puertos de Beceite National Park, the striking circular structure is composed of a series of terraces and internal spaces. It has been designed to appear as if almost invisible, with glazed sliding walls to make the most of the scenery. With outstanding views and a thoughtfully curated interior, not to mention a polished concrete pool within the circle, it gets a big yes from us.
Photography Solo Homes
Cape Schanck House, Melbourne, Australia
This single-storey house might have the hallmarks of a mid-century jewel, but in fact, it’s a contemporary design by Paul Morgan Architects. The practice approached the residential project with utmost precision, recording and harvesting data about sunlight and wind direction on-site to inform its aerodynamic external skin. But the innovation of Cape Schanck House continues beyond the building’s structure. There’s also an internal water tank that monitors the house’s temperature and keeps visitors cool in the Australian heat. The curvy raindrop-shaped tank, which sits in the middle of the living space, doubles as zone dividers. It also gives the house an extraordinary, sci-fi feel, as does the shiny metal exterior. When the time comes to explore the peninsula, the beautiful Cape Schank National Park and beach are only a few minutes away by car.
Photography Tasha Tylee
Casa da Volta, Grandola, Portugal
The setting of this stone-walled holiday home looks as if it’s been plucked from one of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns – that is until eyes meet the turquoise waters of the swimming pool, encircled with elegant loungers. Dug into a steep slope in a remote part of the foothills of Grandola, Casa da Volta is arranged around a spacious gravelled courtyard and surrounded by 20 acres of dramatic landscape. There’s also a sheltered area for alfresco dining and a number of trees to read beneath, providing shade from the hot Portuguese sun. The architects, Promotório and Silva Cravo, collaborated with interior designer José Luis Barbosa to create a space notable for its soft minimalism and calming colour scheme.
Casa Balandra, Pòrtol, Mallorca
“The most wonderful thing about Casa Balandra is the community it has created,” said co-founder Claudia del Olmo, when we visited for Issue No.4 of The Modern House Magazine. Claudia and her sister, Isabella, transformed their former family home into an extraordinary guest house and multidisciplinary creative residency, filling the whitewashed walls with treasures found at local markets, vintage furniture and, of course, plenty of art. Whether you’re a practicing artist or simply fancy soaking up the sun somewhere with a creative atmosphere, Casa Balandra makes for the most magical place to stay, with its large lush gardens and swimming pool. There’s also plenty of space for cooking and sharing convivial family-style meals. One of our favourite elements is how the sisters encourage guests to treat the Mallorcan delight like home.
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