The Almond Grove, Samantha’s Personal Home Build on the Island

Shortly after arriving on the island in 2017 and when I was missing my old life in London Jamie took me for a drive to show me the beauty of their new island and inspire me to fall in love with it as much as he had.
On the drive we stopped on a ridge overlooking a valley. It was the Son Borras Valley just beyond Ullaro and on the road to Campanet. I recall saying to Jamie that if we were to stay in Mallorca and build a home it
would be overlooking this valley.
Fast forward three years and during a search with property finders Morgan & Morgan Mallorca we set foot on a piece of land in the valley and I knew we had found home. An almond Grove with sweeping views,
hundreds of trees and natural stone walls, I instantly fell in love. I felt a bond to the land immediately and I could imagine the generations who had enjoyed it and the future generations who would go on to enjoy it.
Owned by the local optician and her family in Pollenca the sale of the land was agreed and the planning started.
Working with a local Mallorca Architect we decided to design a one storey house, no higher than the tallest trees, which followed the landscape. It would make the most of the valley views out towards the sea and the
natural light would stream into the windows from it’s elevated position. It was decided the new house would be positioned by the farmer’s old sheep hut which was the only structure to exist on the land when we
purchased it. The materials from the stone hut will be kept and used within the project for posterity and historic charm. The old wooden doors will be kept and fashioned into table tops for coffee tables within
shaded lounge areas in the garden.
Filled with natural materials and paying respect to local traditions, the new house will have a simple architecture which allows the landscape to speak and the interior will be designed with my objective for barefoot
elegance. Working with local artisans and hand-made furnishings our family home will be designed as a calming sanctuary which promotes wellbeing and tranquility.
Two and a half years later the permission to build the house has been granted and the exciting yet daunting journey of the house build begins. Follow along on @thealmondgrove_Mallorca as we face the excitement
and challenges of what is ahead.