Can Roses is located near the picturesque village of Santa Gertrudis in the centre of Ibiza. Originally built in the year 2000, Blakstad Design Consultants were commissioned for a complete refurbishment to modernise various internal systems and adjust the design to suit the owner’s changing needs. This six-bedroom home expands over three levels and includes two guest annexes, one of which contains a mini spa. There’s also a gym, games room, home theatre and an office library. With views spanning luxuriant forest and farmland, the west-facing outlook captures Ibiza’s stunning sunset colours. While the design reflects an ultra-modern island style, the infrastructural changes demonstrate a welcome change in attitudes to environmental protection.
Outdated insulation was removed and replaced with modern materials made from sustainable sources which subsequently increased energy efficiency. Smart electronics were installed allowing for further reductions in energy consumption and a semi-independent energy production mechanism means the house can work self-sufficiently when the system detects the correct conditions. These high-tech additions make this villa an even more comfortable and efficient year-round home.
Can Roses is approached along a curving driveway which concludes with a pergola-covered parking space and two towering palm trees standing sentry at the entrance patio, a motif repeated on the opposite façade. It could be said the villa has three façades – one at the entrance, one adjacent to the pool area and a final one facing the country vistas. This aspect of the design lends a touch of majesty. One of the more interesting features of Can Roses is its double height, an unusual characteristic in Ibiza’s country homes. Two cypress trees stand on either side of the elongated front door which has been made to replicate a traditional Ibizan entrance. Opening onto a reception area, this is the first glimpse of the high ceilings and mezzanine supported by magnificent columns. The sightline extends all the way through the entrance hall to the gardens beyond.
To the left of the entrance hall is a casual dining area furnished with a ten-seat table. Next to this is the open kitchen fitted with wood cabinetry in the same style as the front door and a dark stone bench top. Behind is further access to the gardens. To the right is the spacious salon fitted with oversized sofas and ottomans as well as a sleek contemporary fireplace. The upper floor is constructed as a mezzanine that opens onto the communal spaces below, keeping the whole villa airy and bright via enormous picture windows and skylights. Each bedroom has a private terrace and en-suite bathroom with the master suites boasting a free-standing oversized oval tub.
Each guest annexe is a one-bedroom, self-contained unit, the first of which is located near the main house and the second of which tucks into the vacant space under the pool. It’s here the villa’s luxurious in-home spa is located with an enormous bathtub, sauna, hammam, Jacuzzi and outdoor living room. The colour palette throughout these spaces and the main home flows between neutral earthy tones and an array of blues that shows up in specially crafted tiles.
This villa was designed as a family home with lots of room for entertaining, and this is where the outdoor spaces really excel. Life in Ibiza is lived in the liminal space between inside and out and Can Roses supplies plenty of both. A pergola dripping in flowering vines encloses an outdoor dining area that is connected to a sunken outdoor living room from which the pool extends. Pockets of lush lawns are demarcated by low whitewashed walls and dotted with mature olive trees and covered patios and balconies abound.
The previous design had a more urban influence, and the goal was to return the villa to its countryside glory. Fortunately, the villa was built before the council mandate restricting size was enacted and the main house covers an expansive 900 square metres. Completely updated to reflect a modern Ibiza lifestyle, as well as reorganised for energy efficiency, this gorgeous villa is an ideal year-round home that can accommodate plenty of summer visitors and the occasional special event.