January | 2019

Bruno Erpicum. Avant-garde Architecture in Ibiza

Bruno Erpicum studied architecture at the ISASLB (Institute of Architecture Saint Luc Brussels) and in 2001 he created his current Atelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners. Erpicum has over 25 years of experience in architecture, during which he has won several awards including the Architectural BIFSA Awards (South Africa), the Eric Architectural LION Awards (UK), Prix de l’Urbanisme 2004 (Belgium), the BigMat International Architecture Prize (Luxembourg) and the International Space Design Awards Idea-Tops (China). Among its projects are mainly large residence villas, but also designs commercial buildings, museums, galleries and offices. His works can be found in many countries: Spain, Belgium, France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Portugal, South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland, United States, Peru and in a number of several countries of the Caribbean.

Bruno Erpicums architectural discipline is fundamentally minimalist and austere, although the size of space are usually considerably large. The particular style of Erpicum can receive many adjectives as personal interpretations may be varied. His own statements allows us to get closer to the objective reality represented by these works.

According to Erpicum, architecture should “disappear” and be as simple as possible to let the natural environment express itself and dominate [1]. The environmental context determines the essence of each project using materials found in the area and taking into account the conditions these materials are exposed to, their maintenance and installation conditions [2]. Marked by modesty and perfectly integrated into its natural environment, some works Erpicum are almost invisible in the landscape.

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The environmental awareness is of first order. The buildings are established taking into account existing landscape elements. For example, the exteriors of houses near the sea hosts coast flora of the area, more adapted to the environment and reduce a possible visual impact. You can also say that the process and the design of his works are environmentally friendly, as it attempts to exploit the available resources of the land and avoid large transports.

In the homes of the Belgian architect concrete dominates and technical skills are hidden in the building, inspiring serenity and silence. Erpicum explains, unlike what many think, concrete is a natural material composed of sand and gravel, that can withstand the power of the elements, maintaining its character [3].

A peculiarity of Erpicum is the use of architectural elements to hide the main overlooking views of the exterior at entering the house; according to Erpicum, “so that visitors discover the magic of the place as late as possible” [4] In addition, a house shouldn’t be oriented only to a single view, but be open to all horizons. Like, for example, a villa on the coast need rooms turning their back to the sea, in order to allow spaces that are more introverted and calm the view [5].

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Erpicums architecture can also be considered as a meticulous cubist style, meaning that nothing that is seen in his works is there just because and many elements are due to an intention or adapted to the conditions of the previously existing terrain (or structure).

One of his works in Ibiza is Can Durban, a fundamentally minimalist work that has been approached to the Ibizan traditional finca style, in an environment of ancient fields with old stone walls. The owner asked Erpicum to design his home into a modern version of an Ibizan country estate within the framework of these centenarian fields. In this work minimalism is found in the large windows, offering open views to the landscape, or in the airy interiors so characteristic of the style. Again, Erpicum has used previously existing elements: the patio is mildly sunken taking advantage of the unevenness of the terrain, which ensures that even with strong winds it remains a sheltered place, and the pool was built using the old pylon. Can Durban shows us combinations of several natural stone walls next to the concrete breathes, and it seems to have a warmer atmosphere to which the Belgian architect has accustomed us.

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Can Durban © AABE -Atelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners

Bruno Erpicum is also the author of Infinity House, a more minimalistic work than the previous one. In this triangular volume built villa white extends all over the space, both exterior and interior, and governed by rectilinear forms that draw scenes in large horizontal spaces and towering heights. It’s a sign of serene and elegant minimalism, occupying a position in the landscape that faces away from the other houses and allows to open the horizon, making the most of what the place offers. The interior seems to merge into the landscape through large glass areas that allow a large influx of light and the prominence of the intense blue of the Mediterranean. Due to the dominance of the snowy white walls, throughout the day the sun’s movement causes changes in light and shadows acting on the atmosphere of the place.

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Infinity © AABE -Atelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners / Photos: Jean-Luc Laloux

The architecture of Bruno Erpicum is devoid of decorative attributes. However, when it is understood that the works are conceived with a predisposition to absorb the beauty offered by the site, it is understood that certain grounds are established to the home to be shown as something special, out of the ordinary. Every work is unique and yet you don’t have to be an insider to recognize his style. Entering the house, its easy to realize that the Belgian is a meticulous architect that finds an idea and an intention for every single room in the house.

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The Belgian architect stands out in his profession for many reasons, enjoying a reputation and therefore receives a large demand for projects around the world. Ibiza is one of the places where more projects have been built. Through our website, we present some of the villas by architect Bruno Erpicum.

Erpicums original quotes:

[1] “The architecture should disappear and be as simple as possible to let nature express itself and dominate“

[2] “We must use friendly materials, create with local products while remaining attentive to the installation and maintenance conditions required by the geographical situation“

[3] “Contrary to what many believe, concrete is a natural material made up of sand and gravel, capable of dealing with the power of the elements while maintaining its character.”

[4] “Hide the first view so that the visitor can discover the magic of the place as late as possible“

[5] “You have to create rooms that turn their backs to the sea, spaces that are more introverted to calm the view“

Bruno Erpicum, 2014.

References:

BigMat International Architecture Award (2013). Recuperado el 28 septiembre de 2015, de https://etsav.upc.edu/ca/noticies/9289

Atelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partners (2013). Recuperado el 2 de octubre de 2015, de http://aabe.be/

SANJU, Maria. Bruno Erpicum reinterpreta una vivienda payesa. Decoesfera. 5 de agosto de 2013. [fecha de consulta: 3 de octubre de 2015]

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Modern Finca Can Basso. Respect, Creativity & Detail

At a green hillside and facing the tranquility of the valley, we find a real ancient Ibizan finca with the foundations of an original architecture, enhanced by a contemporary gesture, just enough to preserve the original spirit and adapting it to modern needs and style. Among rigorous lines and attention to detail, perfect simplicity contrasts in a visual game with creativity.

Can Basso is a country house more than 300 years old, which reform in 2010 was the work of Francis Dimmers and Ibizan architect Angela Molina. The project was based on preserving the original features of the traditional Ibizan rural house and it has had much sense to have proceeded in this way:

Much of the water consumed in the home is due to the conservation of the different storage modules, such as the traditional architectural feature of collecting rain water: the water cistern and the outdoor aljibe. The Façade and the front door are facing south to north, in this way cross ventilation cools the house just as a natural air conditioning. This adds up to the characteristic thick walls of the Ibizan finca that are very effective at isolating the summer heat and the cold in winter. This is an ancient architectural method that has proven more effective in thermic insulation than many of the modern features, in addition to savings in power consumption.

Roofs in Can Basso were rebuilt, former stables fully renovated and converted into living spaces. At first glance, it appears as a completely original finca, however, entering the rear terrace or the interior of the house a closer inspection allows us to realize that many of the walls are completely new, or that elements like the skylights, the lighting, the open kitchen and the furniture belong to an interior design with a modern character, carefully executed and with attention paid to every detail.

Modern elements in Can Basso are subtly present, almost hidden in built-in wardrobes, the Bulthaup kitchen, Zanotta furniture, Agape baths or in the lighting by Ingo Maurer and Tom Dixon. These are some of the elements that contribute to the modern interior design. One thing is certain, the longer you stay in the property, the more you start to realize that this Ibizan finca ‘of the new era’ was a project carried out by perfectionists with a clear vocation.

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The house has five double bedrooms and one single bedroom, all with their own bathrooms; there are also a traditional room used as a dining room, an office, a living room and a semi open kitchen, both with access to the front terrace and the swimming pool. The property has 392 m² (4220 ft²) of housing and a plot of 25.000 m² (269.098 ft²), from where you can watch the sunsets in the background of the picturesque Morna Valley.

The two bedrooms in separate units from the main house were ancient stables, now converted into bright and cosy spaces. Each has its own bathroom, with prevailing decorative elements that remind of what it was before. The other two bedrooms in the main house at first glance seem completely new, but the bathrooms with natural stone walls make them harmonise again with the overall style of Can Basso.

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We find noble and robust materials throughout the property, respecting local traditions and work processes. The ceilings of the house often show juniper trunks, characteristic feature of the traditional Ibizan finca. Windows and skylights that are placed along the country estate Can Basso play delicately with the natural light, thus correcting the main deficiency that these old buildings use to have: external light and the resulting sense of space. We can also observe that the traditional based style is perfectly complemented with modern decorative details, inspired by vintage, like the hanging lamps, the exposed bulbs or the industrial style sinks and bathtubs. The project represents a successful combination of extremes, between the old and traditional and the modern and innovative.

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Can Basso is just minutes away from the center of Santa Eulalia and its beaches, but it feels like is being more secluded, as the surrounding countryside and neighboring mountain give the impression of the most isolated places on the island. This is an ideal place to experience a vacation surrounded by tranquility, nature and the beauty of experiencing first hand the heritage of Ibiza.

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The garden surrounding the finca is another point to consider. As could not be otherwise, it is a combination of native and fruit trees characteristic to the island. The Garden vegetation found in Can Basso is the same of an Ibizan rural house, as if it was a crop field but somewhat more ‘aesthetic’ and well mantained. The pool, which at times can seem a natural pond, is enclosed by a tidy and cared lawn and the concrete framing minimalist lines and the colorful Ibizan countryside of predominantly red soil. From the pool area and the terraces we can see the unspoiled rural Ibiza and enjoy the serenity of its atmosphere, whilst all design in this house seems to have been conceived in favor of a harmony of the place.

There are only few projects on the island that have achieved this, not only by the respect which the house was reformed with, but also by the orientation of their living spaces and the way they enlightened the potential of the environment. In the coming years we will see if Can Basso sets a precedent for a new trend in Ibiza, but we should have no doubt there are many options for that to happen.

If you want to know more about the sale of this property, you can visit our website for more information: Can Basso. Ibiza modern finca for sale

References:

CORTELLARO, Steffano. La construcción del territorio de Ibiza: urbanismo, paisaje, arquitectura. Junio de 2013 [fecha de consulta: 25 de noviembre de 2015]

El Tránsito Inicial. Finca Can Basso, el verano en Ibiza (2015). [fecha de consulta: 27 de noviembre de 2015]

Les Voyages d’Ingrid. Ibiza alternatif (2014). [fecha de consulta: 5 de diciembre de 2015]

El Blog de Erik. Can Bassó: la reforma vital de una masía centenaria en Ibiza (2015). [fecha de consulta: 5 de diciembre de 2015]

Tuesday / Nov 26 / 2024

Monthly Archives : January 2019

Bruno Erpicum. Avant-garde Architecture in Ibiza

Modern Finca Can Basso. Respect, Creativity & Detail

CORTELLARO, Steffano. La construcción del territorio de Ibiza: urbanismo, paisaje, arquitectura. Junio de 2013 [fecha de consulta: 25 de noviembre de 2015]

Tuesday / Nov 26 / 2024

Monthly Archives : January 2019

Bruno Erpicum. Avant-garde Architecture in Ibiza

Modern Finca Can Basso. Respect, Creativity & Detail

CORTELLARO, Steffano. La construcción del territorio de Ibiza: urbanismo, paisaje, arquitectura. Junio de 2013 [fecha de consulta: 25 de noviembre de 2015]

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