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RE07



Semester Research «Building & Landscape»
Lena Büttiker
HS20



Research: Can Lis, 1971
Architect: Jorn Utzon
Location: Mallorca, Spain
Type: Vacation House
Sources: https://www.faz.net/aktuell/stil/drinnen-draussen/beruehmtes-bauwerk-can-lis-mit-der-natur-verwoben-14988480.html


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The building was designed so that there are different rooms, which are connected by the outdoor spaces. There are four different living complexes, a kitchen with dining room, a living room, a sleeping area and a separate studio. The main entrance is located between the dining room and the living room. There are different courtyards between each interior space, giving a smooth transition between inside and outside. The building blends in well with its surroundings and is almost unnoticeable from the land side. It hides behind shrubs and tall pine trees. In addition, the building is fully oriented towards the the Mediterranean Sea and closes itself off from the land.

Through the building material, the environment is absorbed. The walls and floors are built of sandstone, which come from the island of Mallorca. In addition, the wooden fixtures are made of Mallorcan pine. Jorn Utzon has taken care in the construction of this building to use only materials from the surrounding area. As a result, the house has a strong relationship with nature and, through its construction, an even stronger relationship with its surroundings.
This can be seen very well through the placement of the individual rooms. Another aspect is the building materials, which were all obtained from the surroundings. Inside the building, the relationship with nature and the landscape can be perceived through the precise arrangement of the windows. Thus, in the living room you have a beautiful view of the sea, where you could think it was a painting. This effect is further enhanced by the deep reveals and the frameless use of the windows.