A tribute to Menorcan savoir-faire. That's how Anne-Cécile Comar and Philippe Croisier, founders of Atelier du Pont, saw this project. On a 76-hectare site, the duo designed a summer residence around the existing building with a contemporary and invigorated aesthetic without neglecting the island's traditional architecture.

The starting point for the development of the project was to keep some of the elements present in the old ruins and restore them in other rooms. The faded yellow of a room's ceiling, the curve of an arch, the rough texture of the façade, the view of nature and the presence of stone in every corner led Anne-Cécile and Philippe to create a fresh and unexpected space that combines different raw materials.

As a result of combining these materials, the kitchen is lit by an intense, cheerful yellow that emphasises the natural tones of the surroundings. In the living room, arched windows made of Iroko wood with off-centre pivots ensure the presence of natural light and an unobstructed view of nature, adding a contemporary touch to the house.

The use of organic shapes in the frames and some of the ceilings and masonry elements is visible throughout the property. The architects chose to preserve the traditional walls of the old barn - very thick at the base and thinner at the top - by creating functional and decorative niches.

Atelier du Pont chose to support local culture and craftsmanship regarding interior design. The bedroom headboards were hand-woven by Pedro and Mariana, artisans from Menorca whom the architects had already used for another project. The bedside tables and side tables in rope and terracotta, as well as the stone washbasins and concrete bathtub, were designed by the Parisian studio.

In addition to the local influence, the owners of the San José also wanted the space to reflect the different cultures they had come across during their travels around the world, something the design studio was able to fulfil.