Restoration story

In the Spring of 2013 we discovered a mysteriously abandoned mansion in the neighborhood of Palma.  Protected by the neighbor’s dog and a long stick in our hand, we risked a glimpse inside. We found white marble stairs with Art Nouveau/Deco handrails. Once upstairs, the ceilings were all over 4 meters high with moldings and all floors had different 20’s floral and geometric tiles. Although there was graffiti all over the place and rubbish everywhere, we could imagine how this house had been once, and could become once again. 

Finding the stairs to the highest floor, we were astonished to find valuable antiques like treasure trunks, clothes, shoes, umbrellas, hats in boxes, paintings, and lots of furniture. The last room we entered would later tell us all the secrets of the house: a room full of handwritten letters, family pictures, military records and hand drawn maps. 

We inspected the building a second time, this time with a specialized engineer in old Mallorquin buildings. 'Perfect, built to stand forever, built around 1890 and renovated in 1922, the time that many people travelled to Cuba and the trend was to copy the Cuban architecture in Spain.”  The house was a prototype of ‘Casa Indiana’.

We’ve made these pictures below before the restoration began. When we bought the residence, our family and friends truly thought we were crazy. So we thought to ourselves if we speed it up and twirl it around, they won't be able to really see all the work needed.  And back then we also thought, no one will probably ever see these pictures.

Today it is hard to believe that this 1920’s residence, with its glossy white marble staircase and stucco-decorated four-meter-high ceilings, had been sleeping for a hundred years.

When we discovered the slightly elevated abandoned 850m2 mansion, we immediately knew that we had an architectural gem in front of us; the residence echoed many features of the fashionable Art Deco movement from Havana.

Although the garden was overgrown and the walls were full of graffiti, we could imagine how this building could look again.

We undertook the major renovation project with immense passion. With the help of ten workers from all trades we worked on the property for almost 3 years.

Our aim was to tread lightly and gently - to preserve the atmosphere and authenticity. Without any attempt to restyle, we tried to reconnect the building with the earth and people, and restore her senses.  We did this by recycling as much as possible, including building materials, design features and décor -trying to respect the work of the early 20th centuries craftsmen during a delicate restoration by many hours of cleaning and preservation effort - which already resulted in an intimate knowledge of restoration techniques.
Some rawness, patina, wear and history were intentionally not erased, but integrated.

During the renovation we were sure to make use of local expertise. We teamed up with the company Unicmall from Felanitx which makes lime wash and lime plaster in the same way as it was made 100 years ago.
We also designed each piece of furniture, both inside and out, true to our wish to express the building’s real soul.

The cosy bedroom interiors are the result of a creative process with designers from Espanyolet, specialists in the re-design of historically authentic linens. Many fabrics around 100 years-old were transformed into small works of art - the headboards of the beds.

In year 1922, General Garau de Montaner finished his Cuban Art Deco style renovation on a hilltop overlooking Palma. He had a passion for Cuba, where he served as a general. He collected Cuban stamps and postcards.

As a tribute, exactly 100 years later, his portrait, imbued with virtue, composed by uncountable letters from his 6 daughters, best friends and honorable colleagues, is now the centerpiece of Dux’s living room.

The general’s own handwritten musical notes dress him and Cuban stamps close his military uniform. Wax seals, his business cards and more sincere words showcase his medals and epaulettes with pride.