Restoring Mediterranean Magic at La Pleta

We sat down with Alberto and Nuria to find out more about the project. Tell us about Desnudo; when and where was the company founded, where you are based now, and your values and ethos?

We founded Desnudo four years ago. At the time, we were living and working together in Zaragoza, in a studio that specialised in heritage renovation. In the spring, we took a trip to Formentera and something sparked within us…why go to these wonderful places for one week a year on holiday, when we could live and work there every day? We relocated to Mallorca and opened a studio in the pretty town of Santanyí. This move allowed us to combine our passion for renovation with the magic of the Mediterranean, and means we can work in line with our fundamental principles of integrity and beauty, towards both people and the environment, day-to-day.

Can you update us on the La Pleta pool project; what have you done so far, and what is the inspiration and vision behind the renovation?

After several months of refining plans for the villa, we are now in the construction phase. Demolitions have been completed; we are already seeing rewarding results, having removed damaged materials and unified the levels of the solarium for example. The villa has many inherent qualities, with stunning views, native vegetation within its grounds, and typically-Mallorcan architecture such as shutters and dry stone walls. The main objective of the current phase is to revive these qualities, and provide the villa with better outdoor spaces that are spacious, clean and in harmony with the characterful charm of the building and its natural surroundings.

What has been the most successful and most challenging part of this project, to date?

Difficulties often lead to the greatest rewards! In this case, the most complex aspect of the project was to fulfil the requirement of creating a true home-away-from-home, with the whole concept of The Hideaways Club being based on this philosophy. Tight construction deadlines have been in place to keep the villa available for as long as possible, and the importance of preserving its original features, has meant we have had to execute the renovation plan very carefully.

Can you tell us about the work you plan to do in phase two?

Once the exterior work is complete, we will move forwards with the interior refurbishment in 2025, completely renovating the bathrooms, changing the furniture and thus giving the villa a whole new look and feel. Colours, textures and lighting all have an impact on our senses and how we experience different spaces; we believe the renovation will notably transform the feeling guests will have.

What is the look and style you hope to achieve for La Pleta?

The entire design is based on Mediterranean style, characterised by light, clarity, warm, contact with nature, tones, and textures evocative of wood, sand, stone, pine trees, olive trees and the sea. For us, it's about breathing this into the villa, creating continuity and a gentle transition between the home and its surroundings. We also seek a balance between rustic charm and creating a clean and refined space, using only the finest materials, in line with the highquality of the villa.