Few architects get to build in the center of Palma, capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca. For local practice OHLAB, the commission to design an upscale apartment complex on the Paseo de Mallorca, a tree-lined boulevard leading to the city’s yacht harbor, was a privilege that carried a strong sense of obligation. “The client was very ambitious and wanted a landmark,” says Jaime Oliver, who leads the firm with his wife, Paloma Hernaiz. “We also felt a responsibility to reflect the urban and cultural context—to be in dialogue with neighbors and to revive aspects of Mediterranean vernacular architecture that have fallen out of fashion.” Equally important was OHLAB’s determination to set a new standard for energy performance in multifamily housing on the island.

Wrapped in panels of slatted pine, the building’s central eightstory wing dominates a corner (1 & 2), while, on the side streets, six- and four-story sections are clad with ribbed GFRC panels. Photos © José Hevia, click to enlarge.