Here the senses are bombarded by the presence of the raw natural elements: the sounds of the sea, the intensity of the sun and the wind, and the broad views of a horizon framed by geological formations. The 1,830-square-foot building on this plateau is organized around exterior courtyards which are used to funnel and control the prevailing winds and provide passive ventilation. The mass is defined by volumes that step down to follow the natural slopes of the area. The exterior shell of the building is articulated by the stacking, coursing, and stepping of long limestone blocks which have low heat conductivity and provide excellent thermal protection.

Furthermore, like the cliffs, the material ages naturally changing appearance during the seasons. The Orchard corral is the largest corral, enclosing a planting area of 197,195 square feet. It preserves the agricultural nature of the property which has been regularly cultivated for generations. An orchard of 550 olive trees was planted along with grape vines, vegetables, and aromatic herbs. Only local Mediterranean varieties were selected to minimize the irrigation needs. The scale of the corral provided the opportunity to absorb the excavation material of the entire site, reshape the topography, and install a horizontal geothermal network which provides energy efficient cooling and heating for the entire project.

In this new topography, as the land slopes gradually downwards, the long stone wall of the corral increases in height to reveal the facade of a small building otherwise hidden by the olive field above it. The thick walls and shading elements protect the facade from the harsh southern orientation, an 30-inch layer of soil insulates the roofs, and towards the north the carved earth forms a ramp that funnels the prevailing winds to ventilate the interior spaces. The Preservation corral is located in an area of 6,243 square feet where the morphology of the land creates a zone undisturbed by the winds.

This provided the opportunity to create a protected ecotope which is planted with fruit trees of varieties unique to the island and which are almost extinct. The Isolation corral is in a small clearing that is accessed through a narrow path passing through the native forest. It is the most isolated location on the site, surrounded by wilderness and in close proximity to a small brook. This is the smallest corral and will be built by hand to preserve the surrounding vegetation. Like other traditional structures in the islands, the edge of the stone wall will define the shape of a small, shaded resting space.

Photo: Stale Eriksen