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SERIEN LEHRJAHRE BEI ... • WORKING AT ...
Sanierung eines Hauses in Portocolom (2022), ... • Renovation of a house in Portocolom, ... have greatly expanded my understanding of architecture.
... archaische Ästhetik dank natürlicher Materialien • ... archaic aesthetics thanks to natural materials r How is the office structured? How many employees and interns were there during
Kindergarten-Neubau in der Gemeinde Llubí (2020) • New kindergarten building in the municipality of Llubí (2020)
Entwurf: Aixopluc und Aulets; Fotos: José Hevia
038 • AIT 10.2025
I don’t think you can talk about a single pioneering role in the Spanish context. Rather, it
is a discourse between several offices, initiatives and teachers who are jointly searching
for more sustainable solutions specific to the location. One example is the common prac-
tice of many hotels to renovate their interiors every two years, which leads to enormous
amounts of waste. In response, Aulets founded the Amarar project. This project uses this
waste to make furniture, but also pine wood from trees uprooted by storms.
r What did you learn at Aulets and which projects did you get to work on?
During my internship at Aulets, I was able to work on projects of various sizes. These
included competitions, single-family homes, interior renovations and a design-build pro-
ject in which temporary structures for a wine fair were planned and built. What particu-
larly impressed me was Aulets’ thoughtful approach to resources. The origin, transport
routes and constructive use of local materials play a central role in this. Materials were
also always carefully considered in terms of their dimensions, properties and potential.
I learned a lot from the design-build project in particular. You experience first-hand the
tolerances that can arise during construction, how materials behave physically and how
big the difference between planning and execution can be. These practical experiences
your time there, and how essential is it to speak Spanish?
The office was run by the two founders, Francisco Cifuentes Utrero and Sebastià Martorell
Mateo, with Sebastià being our main contact person on a day-to-day basis and present in
the office almost every day. In addition, there were two Spanish team members and two
to three interns. Aulets often collaborates on competitions. I had taken Spanish courses
before my stay, but language skills were not a decisive factor in the interview. In the
office, we communicated almost exclusively in English.
r Before your internship in Mallorca, you gained work experience in Austrian archi-
tecture firms. What makes Aulets so special for you?
What was particularly striking was the extreme focus on natural conditions, such as
the Mediterranean climate and limited resources, which fundamentally determined the
design process. The dimensions and properties of materials were given the same conside-
ration and attention as, for example, a room- and functional programme. The firm often
approaches construction projects by further developing traditional, vernacular building
methods. The focus is always on aspects of social, ecological and economic sustainabili-
ty. Aulets’ work is very location-specific, experimental and context-sensitive.
r Working in Mallorca: that sounds like a dream come true. Were you able to combi-
ne work and leisure? And were there also any aspects that you found less enjoyable?
Working in Mallorca not only sounds like a dream come true. It actually was. I have to
say that I had never been to Mallorca before and therefore didn’t know what to expect.
Between February and early May, outside the summer tourist season, the island was
pleasantly quiet. I explored many architectural highlights on my racing bike, which was a
perfect combination of my interests. I also realized how much mass tourism is impacting
the island. There are around 14 visitors for every resident. Places that are almost deserted
in spring are overcrowded in June. The daily lives of the locals are significantly affected,
as public transport and roads are overloaded due to intensive tourism. These facts also
showed me the downsides of this supposed paradise.
r Which architectural highlights can you recommend?
Mallorca offers a variety of architectural highlights. One of the most significant buildings
on the island is certainly Can Lis by Jørn Utzon, a house that the Danish architect built for
himself and his wife in 1971 near Portopetro. La Lonja in Palma is one of the finest examp-
les of Catalan Gothic architecture. Guillem Sagrera built the maritime exchange in the
mid-15th century. It is based on a system that gives the building a complex appearance,
by Francisco Cifuentes in his doctoral thesis, making it a recurring topic of conversation.
yet can be broken down into simple, repeatable elements. This structure was analyzed
In terms of museum architecture, the Fundació Joan Miró is noteworthy. It includes an
exhibition building by Rafael Moneo from 1992 and the studio building by Josep Lluís Sert
from 1956. In addition, the island is home to remarkable works by Francisco Javier Sáenz
de Oiza, Ted’A arquitectes, Álvaro Siza, John Pawson, Alex Popox and, of course, Aulets
Arquitectes. Mallorca is architecturally extremely diverse and always worth a visit.