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Unspoilt fishing villages, rustic beach shacks and turquoise bays line this stretch of the southeast coast. Here’s your chance to savour true Mallorcan culture far from the tourist traps.
CAN LIS No design enthusiast worth their salt should miss the seaside home of Jørn Utzon. The architect of the Sydney Opera House used a ratio of 1:1 (first modelled in sugar cubes) throughout the floor plan to wondrous effect. He created a series of colonnaded buildings that open to the sea, incorporating local and traditional building methods and motifs. Demand to visit (and stay) here is high so be sure to book up to 18 months in advance for the high season to avoid disappointment.
THE NEUENDORF HOUSE Despite being completed in 1991, The Neuendorf House, designed by John Pawson, has an air of old-style grandeur about it, thanks to its dramatic proportions that surprise and delight. Set in an almond grove, with panoramic views of the mountains and sea, this modernist statement is still distinctly Balearic with the surrounding soil lending its pink pigments to this concrete creation. Book ahead to stay.
WHERE TO STAY Splash out on the lovingly restored fortified citadel of Cap Rocat and lounge in your private pool carved into the cliffside. Or if you are looking for a more rustic affair, choose Ca’n Gaià, brimming with character, traditional interiors and textiles of the area.
WHERE TO EAT A feast for the senses awaits at the Son Alegre Vineyard, where nature takes precedence, and it’s not just the organic Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon blends that flourish, but also native flora and fauna. Finish off your evening metres from the sea at restaurant HPC in Portocolom for boat-to-table fresh seafood and paella.
DON’T MISS Worthwhile jaunts include Cala Llombards beach for a dreamy dip backdrop that you won’t forget.
SIGNATURE SOUVENIR Head straight for the Plaza Mayor in Santanyí on Wednesdays and Sundays, where basket-clad stalls are filled with local oils, salts and handmade gifts.
Seek out seductive Scandi design in the Swedish capital.
ST MARK’S CHURCH Considered a craftsman as much as an architect, Sigurd Lewerentz won this commission at the age of 77. A perfect study in the versatility of brick, the entire building, down to the altar, is comprised of uncut bricks, which took huge forethought. Check the website for visiting times.
SKOGSKYRKOGÅRDEN Now a recognised UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is a graveyard like no other. Complete with pathways through pastures and woodlands and porticos to find solace in, this design launched the careers of Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz.
WHERE TO STAY In Stockholm’s case, the hotels are every bit as much a design draw as the landmark architecture, with Ilse Crawford’s exceptional Ett Hem the hot-ticket on almost every design lover’s international hotel hit list. The city’s achingly cool Nobis is another sterling choice.
WHERE TO EAT Only locals know about Kagges, serving a modern Scandinavian tapas menu. Another insider’s secret is Lisa Elmqvist, the fourth-generation fishmonger to the Swedish royal family, operating out of Östermalms Saluhall, a huge luxury food market.
DON’T MISS Möbeldesignmuseum, with 900 design classics on show, is not to be missed for furniture lovers.
SIGNATURE SOUVENIR Sweep up at Iris Hantverk brushes for something uniquely Swedish.
Subscribe to the Provençal way of life and immerse yourself in the spoils of this glittering coastline. It’s little wonder this has been an artistic haven since the Belle Époque.
WHERE TO EAT A trip to Nice will be well rewarded with fried zucchini blossoms and sautéed figs care of chef Dominique Le Stanc of La Merenda. For something different, check out The African Queen whose kitsch seventies decor has played host to Elton John and Tina Turner.
DON’T MISS Sitting pretty on a hilltop in St Paul de Vence is France’s first private art institution, La Fondation Maeght, created by Georges Braque, Joan Miró and Alberto Giacometti.
SIGNATURE SOUVENIR Guillaume Dubosq’s hand-turned bowls are a must-buy.
With over 350 museums and galleries, Mexico City is a Mecca for design and deserves every word of artistic admiration it receives.
Explore the creative allure of this quaint corner of Cornwall.
TATE ST IVES Few seaside towns can claim a municipal gallery as impressive as this, with works by Alfred Wallis and Marlow Moss on the site of a former gas works.
BARBARA HEPWORTH MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN Around the corner from the Tate museum, Barbara Hepworth’s home and studio, an idyllic typical stone cottage of the region, is open to the public to celebrate her innovative work, much of which is on display in the garden.
WHERE TO STAY Take your cue from Agatha Christie at the Burgh Island Hotel or set sail for the former yacht club that is Hotel Tresanton designed by Olga Polizzi.
WHERE TO EAT Start your day with one of the breakfast pasties at St Ives Bakery, and finish it with innovative open-fire cooking by chef Andrew Tuck of Tan & Mor.
DON’T MISS Get lost in nature at The Eden Project biomes.
SIGNATURE SOUVENIR Kit yourself out in something weatherproof from Cornish brand Finisterre, found at Common Wanderer.
Don’t leave the south west coast without visiting these design gems.
WHERE TO EAT Get your local fish fill with brimming crab sambos at McCarthy’s Bar.
DON’T MISS Book a boat trip out to one of our original architectural marvels, Skellig Michael.
SIGNATURE SOUVENIR A pit stop at Fermoyle Pottery will have you filling your boot with dreamy ceramics. Be sure to ring ahead.
This feature originally appeared in the Autumn/Winter 2022 issue of IMAGE Interiors.
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