Casa Broner

Erwin Broner came to Ibiza for the same reasons we did. He fell in love with the Island and he came over to build and create.

The first time we visited the Broner House - conveniently overlooking the Balearic Sea, high up the hills of Sa Pena in Ibiza Town - was in the middle of July as we were bathing in sweat and blinded by Ibiza’s famous sunlight.

But as soon as we arrived at the Broner viewpoint and entered the artist couple’s former house and studio we were kindly invited to a refreshing ‘promenade architecturale’ that kept surprising all along. From the framed Balearic vista at the entrance, right up to the sunny rooftop’s panoramic view, and all the way down to the private intimacy of the secluded courtyard.

With every inch of this Bauhaus gem being meticulously planned and carefully designed to accommodate all that Mediterranean living has to offer, we couldn’t help but indulge in the beautiful views the artist-architect must have imagined, whilst leaning back from his sun-drenched drawing table. An eye for detail and a deep understanding of proportions combined with the use of simple, high-quality materials provide the house with a ‘joie de vivre’ that shows a genuine praise and love for the simple life as we used to know it.

The way the small but well-chosen interior interventions complement with the austerity of the outside architecture, has a subtlety that could easily get lost upon first sight. Look at how the horizontally framed living room windows (Villa Savoye!) provide unobstructed sea views with its ‘mallorquinas’ providing sun protection whilst gazing out. Look at how its parapet doubles as bookshelf and accommodates a private dining corner, with champagne table!

Erwin Broner showed how modern architecture could thrive and adapt in an environment dominated by vernacular architecture. Casa Broner was not just about making a clean, modern statement with straight lines and white, empty boxes, but was in the first place about creating a modest and functional ‘machine pour vivre’ for him and his loved one.

It appears to be the way forward to let modern architecture coexist with traditional heritage without picking sides. A bold choice for nuance and detail on an Island that is often characterised by extremes and sheer abundance.

Credits:
Broner House, Carreró de Sa Penya 15, Ibiza. Photo: Eva Burdack