A quiet dialogue with nature
Completed in 1996, this project marks a significant milestone for Morana as international infinity pool designers – our first luxury integration in Spain. Set among pine trees and rough-hewn stone walls on the northern tip of Mallorca, the curved infinity pool appears to belong as much to the land as to the sea.
The site – a steep, wooded slope within a strictly protected environmental zone – made a conventional rectangular basin impossible. The design instead follows the natural contour of the hillside, curving through the pinède to preserve existing root systems and vegetation. That organic perimeter produces the property’s defining feature: a ribbon of water suspended between forest and sky, its edge dissolving into the distant horizon.
At the far end of the clearing stands a low stone building serving as the pool house. A discreet submerged channel connects it directly to the basin, allowing private access to the water without breaking the landscape’s visual continuity. The entire complex forms part of a vast private estate, invisible from the road and fully integrated into its protected natural setting.
Dialogue between materials, textures and terrain
The pool is not immediately visible upon entering the property. Its presence unfolds gradually, integrated into the slope and framed by the landscape to invite a sense of calm and spatial continuity. Respect for the fragile topography dictated every choice, from the underlying hydraulic engineering to the visible finishing touches.
The coping and overflow channel detail were clad in natural stone, laid according to the traditional Mallorcan dry-stone method – the same technique used for agricultural terraces and boundary walls across the island. This approach echoes the rustic elegance of the estate while ensuring a natural, enduring finish. The same material was used on retaining walls and surrounding terraces, creating a continuous visual language where stone meets water without excess.
The palette is deliberately restrained, featuring clean lines that never break the horizon. The interior lining, made from fibreglass-reinforced polyester, was selected for its smoothness and long-term durability, allowing the water surface to reflect the changing sky like a mirror. The mechanical systems are rendered invisible – integrated into the slope behind stone walls or concealed beneath the pool house floor.
Along the infinity edge, a submerged bench was built into the structure. On warm summer days it offers a place to pause and cool off while facing the sea – turning the view into a lived experience rather than a backdrop.
Complex ground and discreet engineering
The site’s natural beauty came with significant technical constraints. Soil studies revealed a highly variable substructure across the slope, making traditional deep-anchored foundations unsuitable. To avoid disturbing the fragile hillside, our engineering team designed a floating raft slab supported by a continuous peripheral footing – a solution that ensured structural stability while preserving the root systems of the surrounding pines.
Access restrictions compounded the challenge. As the property lies within a protected zone, no heavy construction vehicles were permitted on site. All materials had to be transported using compact self-loading concrete mixers carefully manoeuvred along a narrow forest track. The entire construction schedule was managed on a strict deadline, ensuring completion before the owners’ seasonal arrival.
Cross-border site supervision
This project illustrates the cross-border model that has since become central to Morana’s practice. The architectural concept and overall villa design were led by a French architect. The hydraulic network – overflow channel geometry, pipe routing, pump sizing, and balance tank dimensioning – was entirely engineered by our team to meet the precision required for a curved overflow system on uneven terrain.
All site works were executed by local Spanish contractors under our direct supervision. We followed the construction process closely to ensure faithful execution of the technical drawings, acting as the primary point of contact between the architect and the site teams. The balance between local craftsmanship and international hydraulic expertise proved essential in addressing the site’s specific constraints.
The pool has operated continuously for three decades with no structural intervention – a direct result of the engineering discipline applied from foundation to overflow edge.
“Designing within a protected European landscape demands total technical discipline. Every structural line and hydraulic calculation must complement the site – engineering disappears behind the natural view.”