This Secluded, 19th-Century Spanish Estate Is the Perfect Escape From Winter Blues

ByMyProperty Life

French architects Atelier du Pont gave this historic finca in Menorca a modern update befitting its posh amenities while staying true to its local roots.

Located high up on a hill, Es Bec d'Aguila is a place to truly escape urban life by finding sanctuary in Menorca's rugged landscape.

Most often, it’s the ritzy and crowded beaches of Mallorca, Ibiza, and Formentera that lure visitors to the Balearic Islands. Less well known than her neighbors in this archipelago just off eastern Spain is hushed and bucolic Menorca, a location that invites communing with nature. One such place to revel in this solitude is the hilltop Es Bec D’Aguila, a revamped 19th-century finca originally built by a wealthy merchant family as a weekend pad for hunting and entertaining. 

Located high up on a hill, Es Bec d'Aguila is a place to truly escape urban life by finding sanctuary in Menorca's rugged landscape.

Located high up on a hill, Es Bec d’Aguila is a place to truly escape urban life by finding sanctuary in Menorca’s rugged landscape.

Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

Karel Balas

The finca was first built in the 19th century by a wealthy merchant family. Post-renovation, it retains its country charms.

The finca was first built in the 19th century by a wealthy merchant family. Post-renovation, it retains its country charms.

Karel Balas

Read another article:Hot Trends: 20 Best Farmhouse Style Kitchens in White and Wood

Current owners Benedicta Linares and Benoit Pellegrini live in London with their three children, but for two weeks a year they all hole up at the finca, relaxing and taking in the beauty of the island where Linares grew up. When they are back in England, the sprawling Es Bec D’Aguila (Eagle’s Beak) is available for rental, buoyed by hotel-style perks like a private chef and concierge who orchestrates massages and pottery workshops. 

Handmade tiles, many of them beautifully preserved, unify the house's aesthetic.

Handmade tiles, many of them beautifully preserved, unify the house’s aesthetic. 

Karel Balas

Read another article:Revamped Small Barcelona Apartment Combines Multiple Styles and Finishes

See the full story on Dwell.com: This Secluded, 19th-Century Spanish Estate Is the Perfect Escape From Winter Blues
Related stories:

  • Escape to the Woods in These Sustainable, Community-Focused Canadian Cabins
  • Dwell’s Top 10 Travel Stories of 2019
  • Now You Can Spend the Night in Hygge Supply’s New, Ultra-Modern Kit Home

Similar Posts

  • Edgecliff Residence

    Taking advantage of its unique site in Austin’s eclectic Travis Heights neighborhood on the southern shores of Lady Bird Lake, the Edgecliff Residence is a play on contrasts: light and shadow, open and closed, organic and orthogonal. Designed for a couple of empty-nesters on a modest budget, the home’s contemporary aesthetic is balanced by the desire to respect the scale of the existing neighborhood. From the street, the Edgecliff Residence is characterized by a rainscreen made of galvanized electrical conduit—an inventive, low-cost solution that provides shade and privacy while filtering and diffusing sunlight. Throughout the day, the volume enclosed by the screen is alternately camouflaged and highlighted as the reflective metal responds to changes in the sun and sky. In contrast, the rear of the house opens up to the natural landscape and views of downtown Austin via large windows and cantilevered terraces. Below, the terrain falls away steeply to a public hike-and-bike trail before meeting the lake. The trapezoidal floor plan responds directly to the constraints of the long, narrow site—one side parallels the street while the other runs adjacent to the site’s natural contours. The lower level contains an open-air carport, foyer, and two guest rooms; the terrain on the uphill side is retained by a low wall made of weathering steel. The main level houses the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. The open floor plan highlights the dichotomy between the two halves of the site: ribbon windows screen the view of the street opposite picture windows that frame the treetops and lake. The upper level includes the master suite as well as a private study and media room. Doors from the master bath and study open onto another outdoor terrace that offers sweeping views of downtown Austin.

  • Captivating Eclectic Home Born out of a Derelict 19th Century House

    Giving the old home a new lease of life or a smart extension is one thing. But turning a neglected and dilapidated house from early 19th century into a gorgeous modern home is an entirely different matter. That is exactly what Charlton Brown managed to accomplish with plenty of eclectic panache as they transformed this […]

    You’re reading Captivating Eclectic Home Born out of a Derelict 19th Century House, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.