As Ibiza began to emerge as a destination for artists and bohemians of all stripes in the late 1930s, the island’s vernacular architecture came into the spotlight and several big names in global architecture stopped by to see, study and even build here (read more about this in our blog series here, here and here). Among the many individuals who have celebrated and documented the island’s traditional forms, one name stands out: Belgian-born architect Philippe Rotthier.
Rotthier first came to Ibiza in the 1970s, a period when the island’s traditional architecture was still largely intact but beginning to face challenges from modernisation and tourism-driven development. Immersed in the island’s serene landscapes and rich history, he developed a philosophical admiration for the traditional farmhouses that dot its countryside. For Rotthier, these structures, with their whitewashed walls, cubic forms and unassuming elegance, embodied a mode of living deeply intertwined with nature’s rhythms. Synonymous with simplicity, functionality and a connection to the environment, they were not merely buildings but reflections of a lifestyle rooted in harmony, utility and community.
His deep engagement with the island’s architecture led to his landmark book, Ibiza Le Palais Paysan (AMM Editions, 1984), which documents and celebrates traditional island farmhouses via insightful essays, spectacular photographs and delicate line drawings. More than just a collection of architectural observations, it is a tribute to the ingenuity of the island’s builders and their ability to adapt to the unique conditions of their environment. Much like studio founder Rolph Blakstad’s book The Ibizan House, the Key to a Millennial Tradition (read more here), published much later, Rotthier’s work has become a cornerstone for those seeking to understand the soul of Ibiza’s rural heritage.
Along with Rolph Blakstad, Rotthier was among the few architects in the Balearic Islands at the time with the expertise and vision to design homes that honoured a millennias-old tradition. Instrumental in preserving the architectural heritage of Ibiza, most notably through the Taller d’Estudis de l’Habitat Pitius (TEHP), which he established in 1985, his dedication extended beyond the island, when he founded the European Prize for Reconstruction of the City in 1982 and the Foundation for Architecture in Brussels in 1986, followed by the founding of the Museum of Architecture – La Loge – in Brussels in 2011.
Rothier’s book and work serve as inspiration for future architects and designers leaving a great impact on Blakstad Architects and Design Consultants. His outlook is a reminder of the importance of honouring the past while adapting to present-day needs. By understanding the principles that guided traditional Ibizan architecture, modern designers can now create homes that feel authentic to the island’s spirit while incorporating new materials and technology.
