Earth, life, design

After more than 20 years of business, Jason Watson Todd of multi-disciplinary architecture, landscape, maintenance and construction firm Terravita is getting back to his roots. A major operational restructuring is refocusing his passion for the environment and cutting edge design. “I came up with the name Terravita in 1996,” says Watson Todd. “It’s Latin, meaning Earth and Life. The company has grown a lot over the years but now it’s time to get back to the original meaning behind the name. We’re metamorphosing.”

The architectural and design studio delivers beautiful, liveable homes and the team see themselves as a gateway for clients to achieve their dreams through the lens of environmental protection, without forgoing style and beauty. A Terravita home is contemporary and chic; its environmental aspects are basically invisible whether it’s a refurbishment or new build. Terravita’s five sectors – renewables, gardens, construction, design and maintenance – are being brought back under the umbrella of the main company, allowing processes to be refined and concentrated. “We want to make sure the client is centred in every aspect of the business,” says Watson Todd. “Bringing everything back under one roof means the flow of information is contained.”

The Terravita team consists of architects, technical architects, landscape designers and biologists, all connected by a passion for environmental design. “We go all the way to the edge on the design side and then pull it back into reality,” explains Watson Todd. “It’s a lot of fun and gives us an opportunity to think outside of the mainstream before reining it back in.” The enthusiasm of his team is one of the things that inspires Watson-Todd to keep pursuing his dreams. “There is so much new information out there every day. I can’t keep up by myself,” he says. “What it boils down to is the team’s passion. Each of us has our own areas of interest. We meet once a week to brainstorm new ideas and find action points. Sometimes it might take six months to develop an idea and sometimes it might be five years.”

Every architectural endeavour requires compromise. When it comes to tallying the needs of the environment with the desires of clients, Watson Todd’s attitude is about mitigating the circumstances. “If a client is really keen on having a lawn we’ll explain the alternatives available and then if that doesn’t fit with their vision we’ll look at it from an environmental perspective,” he says. “We’ll put in a recycled water system that’s irrigated from underground, we’ll choose a water-wise species of grass and put in a reed bed.” Gardens are where Terravita started and landscaping remains a passionate part of the company, with an in-house biologist working to create wildlife-friendly outdoor spaces. Along with bird and hedgehog houses, the company has started to install bat homes as a deterrent to mosquitos. “One native bat eats about 2000 mosquitos a night,” says Watson Todd. “It’s much better than spraying.”

After 20 years at the vanguard of Ibiza’s environmental architecture scene, Watson-Todd is pleased with the way the island has evolved. As technology has improved and awareness of climate change has increased, clients are starting to see green architectural solutions as completely viable. “People are a lot more interested in energy efficiency and water recycling. There’s been a big shift in the last five years.” Watson Todd uses the analogy of buying a new car, citing that the first thing you ask is how much will this car cost to run? “Unfortunately people forget to ask that of their homes. I’ve seen clients who are spending up to 6000€ per month through inefficiency, just from the kind of taps they use, or the cooling and heating they have. It’s unnecessary, and we can reduce that by 80 to 90-percent.”

Terravita loves a challenge and doing a refurb can be just as exciting as building from scratch. For the owner, satisfaction comes with a reduction in monthly bills and a sense of pride in helping to protect the environment. Watson-Todd has cultivated a network of professionals each with their own speciality, preferring to collaborate with people who are dedicated to perfection in their chosen field. “We’ve built a big pool of people to work with,” says Watson Todd. “It all comes back to providing that excellence to the client.” Terravita’s clients are split 50/50 between people who come to them for the environmental aspects and those who love the sleek, modern style the company is known for. Watson Todd approaches each project with the same excitement, whether Terravita goes on to manage the build or just does the design. “Our objective is to deliver an environmentally aware design and to keep getting better and better at it.”

Watson Todd is considered in his approach – there’s no dogma or demands, just a gentle respect for the environment and a desire to push the boundaries of architecture. “I’m not a puritan. I don’t think we should go backwards in terms of lifestyle,” he says. “We try to find the middle ground, to create a lifestyle that is conscious and look at ways to compensate certain choices.” Watson Todd’s own family home is a testament to his dedication and passion. It’s a quintessential Ibiza style villa, with the added Terravita bonus of being energetically self-sufficient and easy to run. The Watson Todds have not had to make any compromises in the way they live while staying true to their principles.

There’s a new urgency to Terravita’s mission. In the last few years’ climate change has become the defining issue of our times. Despite the grim outlook, Watson Todd remains optimistic. “Things are bad but I think we’ll pull through it,” he says. “There’s a shift in consciousness and people are starting to take responsibility and not waiting for governments.” Ibiza is the ideal place for a quiet revolution, especially when it comes to architecture and garden design, and Terravita is leading the way. “Doing my best is what gets me up in the morning,” Watson Todd says. “We keep striving and evolving and always keep the environment in mind. It’s about doing your best within your means.” The restructure lets the team flourish and redefine their purpose while also providing clients with a streamlined service and a way to live their best Ibiza lives in harmony with nature.

Abstract vision, island soul

In 2018, designer Marie Su – best known for her work as creative director of luxury swimwear brand Sumarie – experienced a conscious shift that crossed all areas of her life and work. After many years spent traversing the globe and working to the demands of the high end fashion industry, she felt the desire to become liberated from the expectations, boundaries and labels of others. Her connection to Ibiza had always been strong, and after the birth of her first child, she gave up city life in favour of authentic campo living – thriving off the energy of the island.

Here in Ibiza, Marie felt she had the freedom to redefine her life and work in a way that allowed her to combine her painting with her designs. The two elements flow harmoniously together through the Sumarie brand – without one, there would not be the other. Today, she describes herself not as an artist or a designer; rather, a creative person with unlimited potential. Here, she shares some of her favourite recent abstract pieces – created during her first year of being immersed in island living and culture.

Aqua, Ibiza 2018 Paper and watercolour on canvas “When I started to work with round shapes and canvases, I felt an immediate connection with universal structures and colours of the elements,” says Marie, of this striking circular, textural piece from her 2018 series ‘The Elements’. “Since I became so heavily inspired by the nature of this beautiful white island and its feminine energy, I wanted to try to capture it in movement, texture and colour, which is how this spontaneous and very free-flow piece was born.”

No need to explain, Ibiza 2018 Ink, watercolour and pigments on canvas  The first painting from her series ‘Universal Language’ is one of Marie’s personal favourite pieces from the work she created in the last year while undergoing a transformation in her first six months of life on the island. “It was so beautiful and implosive to paint this series,” she says. “It was basically like letting something else do the work for you; you just watch the show, as if someone is channelling it through you. These paintings have incredible amounts of codes, words, symbols and pure movement of vibrations.”

«любить», Ibiza 2018  Pen, watercolour and glue with pigment on canvas Translating from Russian as ‘To Love’, this piece is also from the ‘Universal Language’ series of works created in 2018 in Ibiza. The artist explains her inspiration: “To really feel and experience how you can love someone unconditionally makes a much stronger and bigger impact on your system than being loved and thinking of love as a social concept. In the first year after having my first baby, I experienced that and wanted to capture it in pure vibration through a painting. The Russian part came through there as a power system and something pure from my childhood.”

Out in Nature, Ibiza 2018 Mixed media: Pigment, gel, collage and watercolour on canvas You can almost see and feel the colours of Ibiza pulsating through this mixed media work. “Ever since I moved to Ibiza’s campo, the Mediterranean green has been really a beautiful surrounding colour, representing life and vitality to me,” explains Marie of her inspiration. “This painting is exactly that; it captures those special green tones we see here in Ibiza everyday, all year round.” Contact Marie Su directly to enquire about viewing, purchasing or commissioning her work. Email [email protected]

Think global, eat local

Here on the white isle, the dedicated team of eco-warriors behind the Ibiza Preservation Foundation support cutting-edge projects and vital research across some of the most pressing issues of our times – think environmental preservation and protection, water and energy use and the promotion of sustainable practices. The latest project they’ve thrown their weight behind is Ibiza Produce, a platform created to encourage the continued cultivation of the land and provide access to, and support for, local farmers and producers. The driving force behind Ibiza Produce is Gabrielle Gambina, whose background in tourism and finance coupled with experience as a chef and passion for good food has prepared her well for the role.

The impetus for Ibiza Produce resulted from a yearlong study of the local market, consumer habits and interviews with farmers. “It became obvious that people in Ibiza want to buy local produce and products and give back to the island but that the issue was in distribution, labelling and awareness,” says Gabrielle. “There are various challenges associated with this, so we started out by going back to basics, which is information and knowledge,” explains Gabrielle. “In the first instance, we want to put the farmers and producers out there.” It makes sense – local farmers are the unsung heroes of the community and have long been the heart and soul of the island. Ibiza Produce aims to bring their essential work into the limelight.

Year one for Ibiza Produce will focus on information, communication and community. The first major project for the organisation was the website – a portal providing much-needed education on local produce, farmers and products. Published in English and Spanish, the website is a constantly updated resource which puts all the best local produce and products at your fingertips, quite literally. Using the easy-to-navigate sections, islanders can easily access information about direct sales farms, fresh veggie box delivery and a list of markets across the island where locally grown fresh food and island-made products can be purchased. You can even find information on booking a farm visit – a great activity for young and old, locals and visitors or just the curious at heart!

Ibiza’s fertile soil provides a cornucopia of goodness and the Ibiza Produce website also lists information on where to stock up on traditional crops such as almonds, xeixa (an ancient low-gluten grain native to the island), fruits, vegetables and much more. Focus is also given to non-traditional products that are made here in Ibiza, with everything from beer and gin to jams, honey and natural cosmetics being showcased online. Over 50 farmers and producers are featured on the site, with more added every day and there are now plans to provide recipes too, completing the circle from farm to shopping bag to home.

“Collaboration is key,” says Gabrielle. “We want to bring people together over our shared agenda which is think global, eat local.” As Ibiza Produce grows across sectors, more focus will be given to events that support and celebrate Ibiza’s food culture. “The island’s farmers are very keen to engage directly with consumers,” Gabrielle says. “We have personal meetings, workshops, pop-up dinners and special events for adults and children.” One local chef, an early supporter of Ibiza Produce, has already incorporated the ethos into his work by hosting regular farmer’s dinners, where the farmers introduces themselves before guests indulge in a meal made with their produce. It’s personal touches like these that allow locals to feel a connection with not only the island they love, but also those people who work towards sustaining its future.

Farming is not an easy profession but it’s essential to the livelihood of the island and the health of the land. “If the land is left uncultivated in Ibiza, the pine trees take over, causing many environmental issues,” says Gabrielle. “Our objective is to revive and protect Ibiza’s farmland.” To do this, education is critical and Ibiza Produce works with local schools to create vegetable gardens and curriculum while also helping to boost student numbers at the agricultural college and commencing discussions with local authorities on how to provide school canteens with local produce. Infiltrating the school system in this way means today’s island kids grow up with much more awareness than previous generations – something that is essential to the preservation of Ibiza, and planet Earth in general.

There are plans for Ibiza Produce to expand into bricks and mortar support for local producers. “We are researching the possibility of creating a shared kitchen facility where caterers, producers and distribution companies can rent space by the hour, week, month or year,” explains Gabrielle. “They’ll get access to the facilities they need to expand without the financial burden.” The goal is to make it easier for producers to do what they do best, while providing the infrastructure for production, distribution and marketing to reach customers who are eager to enjoy home-grown products. Online shopping is a future goal with support already provided to the creation of a hive where online purchases of local products can be paid for in advance and collected from a pick-up point. Stay tuned for developments.

Collaboration reaches across the Balearics too with connections made in Menorca, Mallorca and Formentera to promote hampers filled with local products. Keep an eye out for dedicated stands filled with locally produced goodies in some of your favourite stores in the coming weeks and months. While purposefully created hampers are on the cards for the future, Gabrielle suggests this Christmas is the perfect opportunity for Ibiza residents to support the island’s producers by creating unique Ibiza-themed Christmas gifts and hampers for your friends, families and loved ones, using the handy website guide to locate all the products and produce you want to include. And while you’re at it – why not source all the festive foods you need to create your Christmas feast here on island soil? ‘Tis the season to be giving after all – why not give back to the island at the same time?

Light, shape and form

Ana Lui’s rise as Ibiza’s premier photographer has been stratospheric. Born in Warsaw, Ana graduated in Media Arts at Plymouth University after which she decided UK life was not for her. A season working in Ibiza cemented her love for the island and she made the move in 2007. Finding her island feet didn’t take long and she soon made her mark as Ibiza’s most sought-after wedding and event photographer, creating a brand that has seen her flown to nuptials all over the world. Having conquered the wedding market, Ana found herself in a position to add more bows to her quiver. She began to pursue her dream of branching into travel photography and her images – of Asia, the Caribbean, North Africa and Europe among other destinations – now grace the covers of the world’s leading travel magazines including Conde Nast Traveller UK. Never one to remain in the status quo, Ana is now focusing her lens on architecture, interiors and lifestyle. Inspiration came from roaming the globe for her travel photography, which often included shooting the most luxurious, unique properties and hotels. “I found that I really enjoyed that side of my work,” she says. “It’s about light and shape and form.”

Representing the choices of an architect and designer, using a camera and available light is an art form in itself. Everybody can take a snap of the Empire State building but few can truly capture its essence. “I am interested in telling a unique story of the people, idea and concept behind every design and structure,” explains Ana, who also styles the properties as she shoots. “I like to show the process that’s involved and all the emotions. It’s not typical estate agency photography.” As Ana has become more immersed in this new side of her work, she has developed a broad knowledge base. “I began to recognise designers by the style of their work and to understand the importance of certain materials,” she says. “It’s a different world for me and I’m totally fascinated by it.” This growing knowledge contributes a whole new meaning to her images, allowing for the design process to be transmitted through the camera and onto the page.

READ MORE ABOUT ANA LUI PHOTOGRAPHY

In recent years Ana has moved into the realm of film photography, introducing a new aesthetic to her work. Photographing on film allows for a certain ambience to permeate the images. “There’s a quality that is hard to pin down when you shoot on film,” says Ana. “It has a more human touch.” Grain, light, texture and depth of field all play a role in film photography creating a multi-layered finish that enhances the angles and shadows within an architectural photo. While film was Ana’s first love, the digital medium provides her with room to really play with style. Having the skills to shoot on both formats allows her clients and collaborators more choice and control over the results. Different projects require different approaches; the flexibility to choose is what makes Ana’s work distinctive. “My goal is to transmit a structure’s spirit and story,” she says. “Some stories respond to film, others to digital. Each one is unique.”

Ibiza provides a lot of scope for architectural photography. The island’s architecture runs the gamut from 400-year-old ancient stone edifices dripping in character to jaw-dropping examples of minimalist design. The island’s interior designers have created spaces steeped in island traditions from farmhouse chic and bohemian treasure troves to Scandi wholesomeness and contemporary elegance. For design and photography aficionados, Ibiza provides a kaleidoscope of options. For Ana Lui, the island is a never-ending source of inspiration and coupled with her global travels, she is never short of stimulating subjects. Motivated by a love of storytelling through images, her work possesses a unique ambience that showcases her personal desire for knowledge. The foray into architecture and design will be a delight not only for her but also for design geeks across the world.

Creative flow

For some, to be motionless is to forfeit creativity and the possibility of progress, so when the subconscious call beckons they follow it wholeheartedly, drawn by the instigation of change, the opportunity to flow, the simple act of moving. Jurjen van Hulzen, architect, designer and owner of concept store Ibiza Interiors, knows a thing or two about this very compulsion – he made the decision to move from Amsterdam to Ibiza with his family after only visiting the island once before. It seemed necessary; it felt right. Such was his conviction to move, in fact, that he and wife Selina signed a deal on a house solely on the advice of a friend – before arriving they’d seen any of their charming finca’s potential in the Ibiza campo. “We showed up in the middle of the night and then woke up to this view,” smiles Jurjen, looking out. “And from the very first day, I just thought, this is a really cool space.” Not one to stay stagnant for long, Jurjen’s design brain wound into overdrive and he soon began work on converting the loft space, keen to make it his family’s own.

“Everything starts with the structure” he explains. “So that has entirely the same footprint, I haven’t added anything.” But, using two concrete columns and traditional Sabina wood beams found on the roof as inspiration, the concept of combining rustic with industrial was born. “I really wanted to keep showing off both aspects,” he says. “That’s when you start making your list of requirements – you puzzle it out from there.” At the top of Jurjen’s list was keeping the space open while also creating privacy, and of course, the all-important decision of working out what to put where. “As an architect, you really look at the environment and the orientation – that gives you a lot of information,” he says. “I wanted everything to open out onto the valley so I put the bedroom in the back.” A bathroom and a dining room were also added, and even objects like immovable rocks in the middle of the room were transformed into features. “We couldn’t move it so we made something out of it!” he laughs. “We built a bench on top of it. I thought I wanted to get rid of it but actually, it’s become a typical Ibiza architectural feature.”

With many years of experience working on projects all across the globe, Jurjen is more than used to dealing with issues – a rock isn’t going to stand in his way for long. And it’s a similar deal when sourcing high quality materials, notoriously not always easy on Ibiza. “We designed a new custom kitchen,” he says. “It’s made from raw steel with a natural stone top so it fits with the industrial feel.” But in keeping with the rustic side of the concept, there are softer touches elsewhere. “The curtains are 100-percent natural linen,” he affirms. Undoubtedly, it was a project requiring balance. On one hand, negotiating technical challenges like drainage and water supply (“It’s the stuff you don’t see that’s the hardest.”), on the other, enlivening the space with a smattering of work from local artists like Lolo Loren and Oliver Mader. A classic case of functionality versus design – at least Jurjen only had himself to answer to. “I was the client, the architect, the building manager and the interior designer!” he says. “There was only me, so I could tick every box I wanted. But when I work with others, it’s a dialogue, a process, a collaboration. I love that too.”

And work with others he does, often. At the Ibiza Interiors store in San Juan, clients drop in for architectural advice – either from Jurjen personally or from one of the team of three architects and designer – or for decor inspiration. The store houses a selection of stunning mid-century furniture as well as art and select homewares. It’s a studio space alive with ideas, one that Jurjen invests in creatively, and that gives back in return. With the loft conversion finished, Jurjen seems relatively content. “Sometimes I wonder if it’s too nice,” he muses. “I’ve been thinking about every little detail for six months. But I feel like I reached my goal and there is nothing I would do differently.” And will a period of creative regeneration follow, at least on a personal front? It seems unlikely. “I get to a point where I finish with a project and my mind has already moved onto the next one,” he smiles. “I cannot really sit still.”

An oasis of blooming beauty

Two years ago, this abandoned farm was a wasteland of fallow meadows and neglected orchards. Today the 56 hectares of farmland are flourishing under the devoted guidance of Marina Morán Jou. As the island’s largest organic farm, it has become an oasis of blooming beauty open for all to behold. The team of passionate individuals dedicated to reactivating the island’s farming culture discovered Terra Masia, which means farmland in Catalan. Parched and overgrown the land was in desperate need of love, dedication and time to bring it back to its fertile glory. Spanish-born Marina was entrusted to take this vision forward to create not only a productive working farm but also a beacon of hope for the island’s burgeoning organic farming scene.

Working with the earth is in Marina’s blood. Hailing from a farming lineage she has followed the path of her father and grandparents, but along the way she has created her own methods. Marina doesn’t like to define her farming style, instead, she investigates approaches and tests techniques to see what works for the land. “I don’t like to put labels on the methods I use,” she says. “I listen to the land. My job is to recover the fertility of the soil. All my efforts and the work I do comes back to this and my love of the land.” Now in her third year, Marina leads the farm’s ambition to become an emblematic benchmark for other organic farms and an international example of eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture. Eschewing pesticides and chemicals companion planting provides homes for useful insects while repelling others from their favourite dining spots. Green manure replenishes the soil and all farm practices are geared towards supporting the cycles of nature.

Biodynamic farming methods work with the phases of the moon to harness ultimate growing advantage. The health of the soil and all that grows within it is the focal point, allowing produce to be grown at optimal nutritional levels. That’s why you’ll find some areas in rest – soil beds given ‘time off’ so they can revitalise – while others are in a changing cycle of local vegetables and specimens from countries with similar climates permitting the land to bear a rich variety of food. Golden beetroot, rainbow chard, sprouted leaves and beautifully aromatic herbs line the fields while juicy pears and zingy lemons grow abundantly within the orchards. Tiny Cucamelon – like a lime and cucumber combined – from Central America, vibrantly purple and uniquely shaped Kohlrabi from Vienna and rich and sweet Costoluto Fiorentino tomatoes from Italy are just some of the international flavours that contribute to the fields of flavour and colour. “We really wanted to bring something new to the island and to the people that live here,” Marina explains. “Now we offer a rainbow of crops for them to enjoy.”

Every weekday, between 8am and 3pm the farm invites island residents, visitors and holidaymakers to walk through the flourishing fields to the on-site market shop where you can purchase boxes filled with vivacious and organic vegetables, fruits and herbs. With its focus on seasonal products, you can be sure the bountiful boxes of goodness always contain something new, exciting and different, and are guaranteed to be organic and sown with love. Also beginning this season, Terra Masia invites guest chefs to share the flavours of the land with farm members during special pop-up dinner events where a three-course menu is served at tables set in the starlit fields. This is the quintessence of farm-to-table dining. Sip on selected organic wines as black Ibicencan pigs – part of an island-wide revival programme – snore lazily in the background and happy hens take shelter for the night. To become a member of the farm and gain access to these exclusive dinner events, simply sign up via the website link below. This is Ibiza living at its very best.

La Vie Bohème Interiors

For many, making the move to Ibiza, particularly when trying to open a business, can be a lengthy, drawn out process. But for Irina Barneveld, founder and creative director of design and decoration business, La Vie Bohème, it felt like it happened overnight – albeit a restless one in which she tossed and turned and didn’t actually get much shut-eye! In part, because she already had an online and personal presence on the island (having worked on many interiors projects in the Balearics), but also because her relationship with Ibiza spans over two decades. When the time was right, she was ready to finally draw back the curtains on her first ever Ibiza store. During that period, many premises came and went, but for Irina and her partners Peter and Pedro – as with everything – it was about waiting for the right place, in the right moment and maintaining faith that the perfect space would pop up at some point. She was right, and her patience was rewarded with an outstanding spot in Cala Carbo, right next to the renowned Harissa Villas and cool café La Sardina Loca – a place that couldn’t be better suited for showcasing La Vie Bohème’s beautiful, inspirational wares. “Once we found the property we managed to complete everything within three weeks,” says Irina, slightly aghast at her own efficiency. “It was actually really fun.”

Finding joy in the midst of all this madness was a labour of love for Irina. Ibiza has fed into her creative process for many years, and consequently it’s always been a dream of hers to open a store on the island. “Our collection suits Ibiza very well,” she explains. By all accounts, people are coming in their droves. Since the store’s opening it has been inundated with clients keen to soak up some of Irina’s faultless style. In keeping with La Vie Bohème’s original aesthetic, there are standalone pieces from brands like Gervasoni, Linteloo, Classicon, Gubi, Meridiani and Ligne Roset and Matthew Williamson, but also a hand-picked selection from suppliers in far-flung destinations like India, Turkey, Morocco and South America. Of course, there’s also a stunning selection of Turkish kilims – Irina’s speciality – and a range of intricately woven, luxury fabrics, which can be transformed into cushions, benches or one-of-a-kind lampshades for both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Even in its early days, the store has already experienced huge demand for these. “Our lampshades are probably the first thing you notice when you come to the shop,” says Irina. “We can create something really beautiful with the fabrics we stock in store, and each one is made to specification.” It’s worth noting Irina works on a consultation basis too, so if you’re devoted to a particular style but can’t find the right fabric, she personally helps you uncover the ideal material. “If you let us know what you’re looking for, we can source it and have it in Ibiza within a couple of weeks,” she explains. “We work with excellent craftspeople, and we’re dedicated to delivering the finished product as quickly as possible.” This efficiency extends to larger projects too, which are typically carried out with Irina’s quintessential personal touch. “Whether it’s a living room or an entire house, we like to help our clients personalise their homes,” she states. “It’s their house, not ours, so it’s important you can feel their touch within the walls.”

Her devotion to authenticity means Irina’s projects truly stand out. “For me, it’s about trust,” she explains. “It’s about taking the time to form relationships with people. What do they like? How do they live? Do they have kids? These are the important questions to consider when working with them.” She goes on: “In someone’s private home you need to be able to feel their energy.” With an ethos such as this, it’s no wonder she’s been welcomed to the white isle with open arms.

Ibiza homes – Can Olivos

“I always had a dream to have a place here,” recalls Melissa Spero, a British-born public relations specialist whose passion for interiors led her to completely refurbish and redesign Can Olivos, the beautiful Ibiza home she shares with her husband Christopher and daughters Lola and India. The journey to finding their perfect property was not without its ups and downs, however the destination was perfect in the end. “In retrospect, I’m really glad,” Melissa says. “Because in the end, this is what my heart was set on. I like the juxtaposition of being in the middle of the countryside but seeing the sea and the sunset. I love the light which enters the house – it’s unbelievable. It’s the one thing above everything which reminds me of how lucky I am to be here. Her first taste of Ibiza had been at the age of 23 – a beach and clubbing holiday with friends – when she felt the famous magnetic pull of the island. “The older we became, the less it was about clubbing and the more it was about days at the beach,” Melissa says. “I had a friend with a house here and I’d stay with her and experience the best bits of Ibiza.” When she met Christopher, he had never visited the island and it wasn’t until 2008 that they visited Ibiza together, when his career as a house and techno producer and DJ, and one half of electronic music act Dense & Pika led him to perform at the legendary Space Ibiza.

It was love at first sight for Christopher too and in the years that followed, the couple would visit every summer with friends, renting a villa they had become particularly attached to in Cala Conta. “We tried to buy that house in the lead up to getting married,” says Melissa, of the beginning of their journey to becoming Ibiza homeowners. “We got quite far down the line but on our return from honeymoon we found that it had fallen through. The house had a lot of underlying problems – but its view became my criteria when looking at houses after that. I always wanted to be able to see the sea and the sunset – especially after we had children, so you could stay home but still benefit from all the beautiful things the island has.” Melissa and Christopher began widening their search in the hope to find the perfect home – ultimately looking in all parts of the island. “We lost our way a bit as we got desperate,” Melissa says as she looks back on the experience. “At one point, after another sale had fallen through, it was like, let’s just get a house! It was such a rollercoaster ride. We thought it was never going to happen and then our agent told us this house in the middle of the island, in Benimussa, had come up. I liked the fact it was central to everywhere and so we jumped on an early morning flight – straight after Christopher came out of a gig with no sleep – and came to view it.”

It was at this point the Speros’ Ibiza destiny finally fell into place. “As soon as we went onto the top terrace and saw how fantastic the view was – we had the sea and the sunset, we were in the campo but we weren’t totally isolated – we said yes! It was a no brainer for us.” says Melissa. “The house definitely needed updating but we thought it was at the right stage for us to step in. It didn’t need knocking down and rebuilding – it was more that it needed decorative elements and a bit of personality. It was a great opportunity for us so we put an offer in and… third time lucky!” In May 2014, they took possession of Can Olivos and work began to transform it into their dream home while the family continued living in London. “We painted all the walls white straight away,” remembers Melissa. “In terms of the wood, we didn’t want it to be too dark, but equally we didn’t want it to be non-descript white! There are perils doing renovations when you’re not here, and at one point the windows were painted an electric blue, so we had to tone it down with copious amounts of white paint. Now, four years on we have totally switched to  a very light French grey. I had a lot of angst over the colour – I’d stare at it for hours and hours. The builders thought I was completely mad. If you don’t get these details right, you have to live with them for a long time.”

Melissa’s intent for the interiors was to fuse the airiness of Scandinavian design with the charm of French country chic, with a little bit of Ibicenco style thrown in. The result is an elegant family home with all the charm of Ibiza living. “I love interiors,” Melissa admits. “It really is my passion – but it’s a big responsibility as my decisions can impact the family’s enjoyment of living here. So far, it’s been massively positive – but I know they’ll tell me straight away if I haven’t got it right! I’ve been doing up properties since I was 21. In fact, my father always encouraged me to work in interiors, but I didn’t think I was creative enough so I stayed in financial PR. Perhaps it’s the fact Melissa has used her passion on personal projects rather than working for clients that makes Can Olivos so special and perfectly tailored to suit the family’s lifestyle. “I come at it from an emotional perspective,” she says. “Maybe interior designers put logic behind things – but for me, everything is done on a gut feeling rather than a qualification. Building works are  expensive so you don’t want to make a mistake! Christopher is a good person to bounce ideas off.” Her supportive husband laughs when asked about his involvement. “I stay out of things until I’m asked,” he says. “But I love the way she does things – even though Melissa spends a long time making a decision, she never likes it to begin with. There’s always a 24-hour buffer until she loves it!”

“It’s true,” says Melissa, who also learned Spanish so she could manage the entire project from afar. “I never look at it and say it’s amazing. I angst over big decisions. Our builder Abdul is fantastic and extremely patient. But sometimes it’s a slow burn until I like it.” From ripping out old red ceramic tiles and replacing them with sleek contemporary micro cement floors (“We didn’t realise how long it would take and the entire family had to live upstairs for weeks!”) to updating the bathrooms, kitchen, terraces, plumbing, electrics, her decisions – be they infrastructural or aesthetic – have all proven successful. With seven bedrooms perfectly spaced throughout multiple floors of the house and a guesthouse, Can Olivos is spacious enough to be fully occupied without feeling crowded. “It makes me happy to have people here, so we made a lot of different zones for people to hang out in,” says Melissa. “It’s good to have people scattered when we have a full house. We have great family lunches and dinners; all the kids can run around safely but then I can also retreat to my own oasis upstairs. I need that contrast – privacy is really important to me.” The roof terrace upstairs is both Melissa and Christopher’s idea of heaven. “When the kids go to bed in the summer, we head up there for sunset with a glass of something… that for me, is happiness. I have a theory that when I’m too old to go up and down the stairs, I’m just going to live on that floor!”

Much of the art and décor within Can Olivos has been collected over a lifetime of world travels or are family heirlooms, complemented with one-of-a-kind finds from Ibiza antique stores, auction houses and interior specialists plus statement pieces ordered from the UK. “I don’t think you need a lot of furniture,” says Melissa. “I’d rather have less but have something impactful.” A solid oak swing hanging from a tree was a must for the garden, purchased prior to the move, while outdoor sculptures were handcrafted by Christopher, who was once a student at the prestigious Central Saint Martins college. “I’d love to start doing it again when I’m not touring so much,” he says. Today, Melissa and the kids are based in Ibiza full-time, as she runs her PR firm remotely, travelling to see her international client base when needed, while Christopher’s work sees him split his time between his studio in the UK and in Ibiza, with a non-stop touring schedule in between. “I fly back and forth a lot,” he admits. “It’s hard in the winter without direct flights, but it’s so worth it when you get here.” Melissa loves the multi-cultural aspect of the island and believes it’s a wonderful place to bring up children. “What I love about Ibiza is that people are from all walks of life, colours and creeds,” she says. “You can be submersed in nature, and part of a small community, yet in a group of very open minded people.”

Educating through inspiration

Estate agents entice their clients to invest with talk of lush green lawns, palm trees and exotic plants, however the reality after you’ve signed the paperwork… water is scarce, soil is tough, conditions are harsh and maintaining that dream garden can actually become a very expensive, never-ending saga. This lack of education from the outset can put a dampener on homeowners’ dreams, however the landscaping experts at Noah’s Garden are big believers in changing your dreams to be in line with the rhythm of life in order to have an eco-friendly garden that thrives today, tomorrow and forever. Founders Karen Sailer and Bernd Brosius possess a passion for sustainability and conscious gardens that has stood the test of time – 20 years and counting. “People come to Ibiza to escape and relax,” says Karen. “For some, buying a home can turn into a nightmare if it’s not what they expected. It’s a lot of work to keep your paradise alive, and with all the development and hype we see in Ibiza, we can’t keep drawing on the island’s limited resources.”

Founded in 1998, Noah’s Garden is named as a tribute to Karen and Bernd’s son Noah, with the idea that every garden created is a future for a child. Karen came to the business with the aesthetic skills from her former career as a carpet designer, transferring her skills and knowledge to the earth while Bernd, a former sailor, was born with a natural green thumb. The two were self-educated on plants and landscaping, learning on the job, throwing themselves into the process with passion and vigor. “At that time, no one ever spoke of water wise gardens,” recalls Karen. “But we always believed in following the rhythms of nature.” Set on the ground of a beautifully restored ancient lime mill in San Lorenzo, Noah’s Garden grew quickly, with their environmentally friendly ethos attracting the type of clients who not only respected their vision, but who also encouraged them to be creative on their land. “Our focus starts with educating our clients about the environment,” says Karen. “When you tell people they are doing something wrong – for example, choosing the wrong plants for the area – they won’t learn. You learn by being inspired and seeing results. We like to make the process of developing a garden enjoyable.”

Noah’s Garden has been responsible for the design and development of many of Ibiza’s most beautiful and sustainable gardens and they practice what they preach. “We are very specific about the way we work,” says Karen. “We don’t do lawns or crazy gardens that require a lot of water. If you want this, you can go to someone else. We prefer to give our clients information the resources we already have. If you’re open minded and like to learn, we’re here for you.” In line with their philosophy, they quickly decided not to sell plants onsite as most garden centres do, preferring only to order in specifically what they need, from suppliers who have grown and nurtured the crops correctly. “The only plants we have onsite are for our projects,” explains Karen. “We encourage our client to look towards nature,” Karen explains of her ethical ethos. “We follow the rhythm of life. We do what nature does – for example, we don’t have a seeded lawn. We let natural grasses and flowers grow and cut them over the rainy period in winter with a lawn mower. It’s a beautiful green, even flowering lawn-like area. We don’t water it, it dries out in summer and returns to life in winter. When you understand how and why it works, you start to love the pastel, burnt colours of the landscape. Parts of nature are designed to sleep, to return to their roots in summer, finding a safe space while keeping their energy. They don’t receive water and they disappear for a while but that’s how the cycle is meant to be. It’s beautiful.” Think of it as the same way your body needs to revitalise and restore in its sleep every night, but on a seasonal basis. It’s not necessary to try and force certain plants to thrive all year round.

Whether it’s a garden redesign or working with architects from the ground up on new builds, the first step when working on a new landscaping project is for the Noah’s Garden team to visit your site. “It makes no sense for clients to come here,” says Karen logically. “We need to meet on their land, where we can see the nature of the landscape. It’s important for us to know where the wind blows, where the sun falls, what kind of water you have, what kind of earth you have – there are so many different soils in Ibiza. Then the process starts.” Karen takes hundreds of photos and returns to her creative space to start drawing – old school, by hand, to really connect with her creativity – and creates a master plan advising on the most sustainable and ethical methods and options. One of the key processes employed by Noah’s Garden is implantation using a bespoke system inspired by the wisdom of ancient indigenous people in the Amazon. “The truth is, Ibiza hasn’t got a proper humus level, and so we produce our own humus using all the cuttings from pine trees and the manure from our horses combined with a special charcoal ‘biochar’ to create the super fertiliser called Terra Preta.” Using this eco-friendly humus – which Karen calls ‘black gold’ –  as a layer of fertiliser within the soil allows water to be retained under the earth, activating life and requiring less water while encouraging double the growth. With this method, there’s also less need for insecticides or herbicides – with Noah’s Garden always opting for biological formulas when needed.

Working with suppliers who try to minimise their impact on nature as much as possible, Noah’s Garden bring their plants and trees in from mainland Spain. “We work with companies who produce plants that need very little irrigation – that have been tested and proven to need minimal water. These are passionate people,” says Karen. Meanwhile, down on the ground, the earth needs to be covered which is why when you garden at home, you find weeds spreading fast across your land. To combat this, Noah’s Garden use many creeping plants such as rosemary to provide beautiful coverage. All gardens come with a six-month guarantee while rooting, and after this period Noah’s Garden also offer a maintenance service to ensure it continues to thrive. “The reason I won’t offer my clients palm trees is because I want then to be happy,” says Karen. “When they buy a palm and later see it die through infection with a palm weevil, they won’t be happy – especially not after spending a fortune on them. My favourite type of gardens are those you can really use, not the sterile manicured ones you just look at. We love olive trees – we even help our clients collect their olives and bring them to the press to make olive oil – and fruit trees. We encourage our clients to have vegetable gardens. I love round shaped bushes, fields of wild grasses – a mixture of life and architectural forms. I want our gardens to look like the human can feel at home in them. To have a wow factor that gives you space.”

Designing dream homes

Handing over the design reins when you’ve just purchased a brand-new property can be a tough ask – you’ve gone through the painstaking process of finding the perfect home, but now you’re left with a shell on your hands, crying out for embellishment at the hands of a professional. For some, in can be hard to pass the baton of trust when the object in question is so precious, but fortunately there are experts available like interior designers Tatjana Berger-Sandhofer and Nick Lording, owners of stylish concept store, TANIS Ibiza, found on the road from Ibiza to Santa Gertrudis. For this gifted duo, taking complete control of a design project is a common occurrence. Having built a reputation as two of the most dependable, creative designers on island, they’re frequently tasked with transforming properties, taking them from raw potential right through to the category of dream home – as their latest project demonstrates. “Absolutely nothing about the current project we worked on looks the same as when we started,” explains Tatjana.

The taste in question, of course, is much like what’s embodied by the TANIS showroom itself – modern, minimal and rustic, it’s an ode to the objects and style naturally conceived by the pair while travelling the globe. The aesthetic works seamlessly on Ibiza homes – even ones built in the 1970s rather than the 2000s. “We spent a lot of time figuring out how to make changes,” says Nick. “Internally, this project ended up very different – we knocked down walls, changed the entrance, raised the roof beams and tiles, created a fourth bedroom and changed the shape and design of the pool and outdoor terrace. Then we started choosing wall colours and fabrics.” Keen to maintain some of the house’s original charm while adding flourishes of their own, Tatjana and Nick settled on a pure, minimal interior, while still preserving some of the building’s authentic warmth. “The location has a lovely feeling, so the house already felt quite cosy,” explains Nick. “But it still took me 10 days to finally find the right colour for the outside walls!” adds Tatjana.

This is precisely the kind of dedication the couple are renowned for and the reason why they’ve extended their expertise all across the world, working on projects in New York, Canada and various parts of Europe. Now the Ibiza villa project is coming to a close, the couple have the opportunity to reflect on a project that’s been a part of their lives for almost a year. “It all came together so quickly in the end,” reminisces Nick. “It was an intense process but our client trusted us, and whenever we had a design question he knew he would be consulted.” Tatjana continues: “It was a really fun project to work on. By the time the owner moved in, we’d taken care of everything from napkins in the kitchen to soap in the bathroom. When it was finished I had tears in my eyes – it was just so incredible to see.”