A French-inspired neoclassical townhouse in the centre of Sóller, Mallorca has been meticulously renovated, envisaged as a second home for a family of four.
The residence fronts one of Sóller’s main streets with a combination of traditional stone houses, many of which date back to the 19th century. Set amid cobbled roads and historic buildings, Can Batlet “is one of the grandest in town. The facade alone is a masterpiece in carved stone,” Durietz Design & Development director Christoffer Du Rietz shares.
A restoration project of nearly four years in the making, particular care was taken by the architecture and design studio to create a private residence for a Danish family living and working abroad.
Can Batlet has five bedrooms, all with an en suite, and two fully appointed kitchens—one on the ground floor next to the indoor dining area and upper terrace, and one on the lower floor next to the outdoor dining area, pool and wine cellar. “As with all similar houses built around this era, the attic and basement were left bare for storage—even though they make up almost half the area of the house,” Du Rietz says. “So we took great care into lifting these to align better with the rest of the residence creating a main suite and sitting room in the attic, a gym, wine cellar, extra kitchen and dining in the basement that is level with the pool area and garden.”
Pictured: New Works Tense pendant light.
Furniture created by Durietz Design & Development is mixed with antiques and furniture from Moroso, HAY, Cappelen Dimyr, and New Works, among others.
The renovation keeps “the essence of the house, restoring every original detail”. This includes the exceptionally tall, stucco-detailed ceilings, floors that feature intricate original hydraulic tiles, and woodwork ornamented with beautiful inserts in a variety of “exclusive wood types not even possible to recreate today” studio co-director Josephine Du Rietz notes. “One of the biggest challenges was finding a harmonising palette to tie together all the multi-coloured tiles and stucco ceilings”.
Part of the approach, Du Rietz continues, was to consider whether the original architect would consider a proposed intervention as an acceptable modernisation. With some of the work necessary for preservation, this became a guiding principle for the additions, such as integrating technology into the house without any visible trace. For the furniture, the studio selected a mix of contemporary classics and antiques sourced locally. Complemented by a selection of artwork that draws on the area’s history, each room is carefully furnished and updated for modern living. “Perfect for visiting guests and for any future expansion of family.”
Preserving the heritage charm of the interiors, the design features lighting from Louis Poulsen, Serax, Oluce, and more. Pictured: Flos Viscontea pendant light.
The staircase showcases the sheer volume of the house.
Pictured: Moroso Pacific armchair.
Pictured: Louis Poulsen PH2/1 table lamp.
Bathroom, kitchen and laundry fittings from TONI Copenhagen.
A green marble tiled pool and hot-water outdoor shower with views over the southwest valley mountains.
A double-chiselled stone staircase leads to the outdoor terrace and sun lounge area.
