A matter of light.

Can Lis is designed to be a summer house that Jorn Utzon decided to create in his first visit to Mallorca, as he was completely fascinated by the island. Located at the top of a steep cliff, the final construction results from the union of five different sections linked together in a free rhythmical sequence that reflect the rugged edge of the mountain. 

 

Each of the five pavilions that form the complex is oriented according to the selection of distinctive views of the Mediterranean sea. For their location and position on site, the architect design follows an order that is based on the position of the sun, the places of the trees and the natural mutual relationships between the actual buildings.

 

The house is built upon local materials of the area, camouflaging itself in this way with the surrounding landscape: the hard local limestone use for its construction integrates the houses with the colors of the scenery which range from gold to pink and which appearance changes depending on the incident light.

 

In the fragment chosen for the description of Can Lis, the extraordinary external view is now not a general but a single one, framed through one specific point: an outer atrium which guides the direction of the sight straight to the sea. The house is completely set among native flora species such as myrtle or pine trees, playing an essential role in the overall architectural design. The soft light that is filtered through the leaves of the surrounding vegetation creates a peaceful view of the exterior landscape, the same feeling that is sometimes obtained when the day is not completely clear. A sense of harmony can also be noted in the image as the incident, soft light blurs the edges of shadows, subtly eliminating contrasts and textures.  

 

The feelings towards the view is perfectly explained by John Pardey when he first visited Can Lis: “There are few spaces in modern architecture that grip you by the back of the neck, and even fewer that posses such an overwhelming sense of place. Here, this is linked to an explosive view to towards the horizon, balanced by a equality of glare-free light and reinforced by the earthy smell of stone and by a sudden silence that momentarily disorientates: time seemed to stop. The tension between deep enclosure and projected view combines in the sensation of being sucked out of the five large, deep apertures not the ocean; yet at the same time, the horizon seems to be pulled right into the room - an enthralling ebb and flow, like that of the ocean”. 

 

Jorn Utzon manages with Can Lis to achieve the transformation of the natural landscape into and architectonical piece among which an enveloping atmosphere of visual feelings and physical sensations can be definitely experienced.