On this October morning in Palma de Mallorca, the day dawned clear, but with scattered clouds filtering the light and providing protection from the heat of the autumn sun. The event, organized by bulthaup Iberia, was once again held at the headquarters of the Col·legi Oficial d´Arquitectes de les Illes Balears (COAIB), a magnificent 17th-century palace located on the beach promenade near the Bishop’s Palace and the imposing cathedral.

Architecture, art… and cocktails

After a welcome and an explanation of the history and artistic features of the palace that houses the Col·legi, the guests made their way to the exhibition room.
Mallorcan painter Rafa Forteza commented on one of his works while master cocktail mixer Rafa Martín served them a cocktail inspired by the artist’s work. The subsequent screening of a video gave participants an insight into Forteza’s creative process.

The medieval roots of Santi Taura’s cuisine

Once the needs of the mind had been satisfied, it was time for the pleasures of the palate. A light breeze had blown away the few high clouds, and the sun was shining from a clear sky, while the bay of Palma shimmered lazily under the sun’s rays, showing itself at its best. Hats appeared on the terrace as chef Santi Taura, who has been researching the medieval roots of Balearic cuisine, both Arab and Jewish and Christian, for years, presented the genealogy of the various dishes on the menu.

An unforgettable meal

The long table set up on the promenade of the city wall invited guests to enjoy themselves; lively conversation and good cheer characterized the meal. By happy coincidence,
it was the birthday of Gabriel Nicolau, one of our ambassadors in Mallorca, which added to the communal and festive atmosphere.
Musical entertainment was provided by the group Le Carromato with their
eclectic music, which forms an interface between the traditions of the old and new continents.

A magnificent sunset surprised the guests who were still seated at the table, and
only when the first shadows fell did they reluctantly retire. It was a
wonderful day, with the calm and peaceful weather of a mild autumn day
once again seeming to conspire with the organizers.

Photographer: Adrian Pedrazas Profumo

A weekend with views, emotion, and passion

A weekend of heavy rain and falling temperatures had been forecast, but this Friday at the end of October gives us a respite, and an autumnal sun caresses the fields. We pass through Binissalem, the wine capital of Mallorca. It is market day, and the imposing profile of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains looms on the horizon. We drive uphill, past stone houses and olive groves, almond trees, carob trees, gardens, and fallow grain fields. Ahead of us, in the foothills of the mountains and towering above the village, rises the silhouette of an impressive building—a Mallorcan manor house made of pink stone: Finca Bellveure, our destination.

Between olive grove and forest

Along a dirt road that winds through an olive grove, our car drives up the hill to the transition between farmland and forest. There stands the ashlar stone building that belongs to the historic possessió. We enter the courtyard – one of the typical Mallorcan clastras, with paving made of river pebbles surrounding the stone edge of the central cistern.

The house impresses with its discreet restoration—time seems to stand still here. We are handed a glass of cava as we gradually arrive and greet each other. The owner’s daughters tell us that the first building dates back to the 13th century, although much of the current house was added in the 18th century. We take a walk through the surrounding fields while they tell us about olive oil – once the heart of the estate, now produced only for personal use and small-scale local distribution.

The oil mill comes to life with bulthaup

Back in the house, we enter the huge tafonA – the oil mill, which dates back to 1640 – through a side door. There, they explain how it works – from crushing the olives with a huge millstone, which used to be moved by a draft animal, to extracting the oil. We then move on to another room in the same mill. While the bulthaup motto – seeing, feeling, passion – is explained to us, music begins to play and three dancers rise up from the oil tanks embedded in the stone floor. Dressed in the colors of stone and oil, they move, intertwine, and separate again—a sensual performance that artistically brings the three concepts to life.

At the stone fountain

Thrilled by this surprise, we return to the courtyard. Chatting in the shade—the sun is beginning to beat down—a large white-gray cat appears, looks at us thoughtfully, and finally stretches out in the sun on a stone bench. Then the trays of appetizers begin to circulate, which we enjoy while chef Santi Taura describes them and explains their connection to the island’s culinary tradition: crispy bites as a reinterpretation of traditional Mallorcan soups; sardine salad on endive leaves with a tomato sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes; small cups of frothy mushroom cappuccino and delicious suckling pig croquettes with a hint of sweet potato.

A balcony above the Raiguer

Time flies by, and suddenly we realize it’s time to eat. Straw hats are handed out, and we make our way to a long table on a magnificent stone terrace that opens up to the wide panorama of the Raiguer region—with Binissalem at our feet and, in the distance, the isolated elevation of Puig de Randa, the mountain where, according to tradition, the Mallorcan mystic and philosopher Ramon Llull received his divine inspiration in the 13th century.

Autumn à la Santi Taura

We take our seats at the table, accompanied by soft jazz and a refreshing breeze. Once again, Santi Taura surprises us with a seasonal menu that, like the aperitifs, is deeply rooted in traditional Mallorcan cuisine. Delicious fideos moreados (noodles in dark broth) with cod and chickpeas are followed by the main course: a delicious stew of chicken, meatballs, and mushrooms. To finish, there is a surprising dessert with aromas of the undergrowth and a hint of confit mushrooms, which bears the poetic name “Tardor a la Serra de Tramuntana” (Autumn in the Serra de Tramuntana).

A day full of sights, sensations, and passion

The pleasant weather, the fantastic view, and the friendly company do the rest. We toast, laugh, and celebrate the joy of being together. The chef comes out and is greeted with loud applause. Once again, the bulthaup motto has become reality: seeing, feeling, passion. A day to remember.

Photographer: Adrián Pedrazas Profumo

In the latest edition of the “bulthaup – The Kitchen as a Living Space” competition, the jury members refined their arguments in several rounds of consultation until they reached a final selection. From this shortlist, the decision for a project of particular originality and courage was unanimous: the prize was awarded to House M3 – in recognition of the kitchen solutions chosen by architect Osvaldo Luppi in collaboration with bulthaup Nicolau.

From modern style to Mediterranean patio

House M3, a single-family home in the prestigious residential area of Bendinat on the west coast of Palma de Mallorca, was designed as a series of interlocking structures to make the most of the light and sea views. At the same time, it was structured to be protected from neighboring properties and to allow for a sophisticated interplay of shadows, movement flows, and brightness through inner courtyards.
The clean lines and geometric rigor reminiscent of classic mid-20th century modern architecture are combined here with local values and the desire for shade and privacy characteristic of traditional Mediterranean architecture. While Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright wanted to open up living space to the outside world, and Roman (and Arabic) houses sought freshness and security in inner courtyards, Osvaldo Luppi has succeeded in combining the best of both worlds with Casa M3.

Material contrasts as a design element

In this interplay of contrasts, the materials also contrast with each other: the exterior cladding of Marès – the light sandstone frequently used in Mallorcan architecture – meets grooved wood with an attractive texture on the walls and a gray natural stone floor. The latter is used both indoors and outdoors, merging the kitchen, patio, dining area, and living room into one large, flowing space. Finally, the pool and terrace lead to an inviting outdoor dining area.

bulthaup – the place where life comes together

The central element around which life revolves in this spacious communal area is also what prompted the jury’s unanimous decision: an extraordinary bulthaup kitchen with a strong personality. In a color that contrasts with the rest of the interior design but still harmonizes with it, the kitchen furniture in natural oak from the bulthaup b3 system emphasizes the vertical and horizontal lines with its striking grain. The worktop, made of the same natural stone as the flooring inside and outside, reinforces the uniform character of the project.

The architect has designed a bold volume for the cooking area, whose proportions also determine the width of the adjacent long oak table – the ideal place to eat together, chat, or simply watch the changing colors of the sky. A real focal point where bulthaup brings people together.