Our study trip to Ibiza felt like a gentle weaving together of history, landscape, and architecture, all unfolding at island pace. We began in the old town, wandering the steep streets below the castle, where centuries of defensive walls still shape the city. The tight streets pressed between walls and sea made it clear how places adapt over time. A quick swim afterward reminded us that architecture is inseparable from climate, light, and water—the broader Mediterranean context always present.

Across the island, we encountered a range of architectural approaches. Can Pep Simó, designed by Luis Sert, balanced modernist intent with local tradition: solid stone walls, open terraces, and a sequence of spaces that felt both grounded and generous. At Santa Eulària church, subtle interventions showed how historic structures can be supported without being overwhelmed. Casa Broner perched on a cliff in the Sa Penya neighbourhood of the Old Town was a highlight. Designed and built in 19690 by the German architect and painter Edwin Broner the clarity of the plan, the careful detailing of the hearth and joinery, and the calm discipline of its proportions created a moment of serenity as the sea breeze moved through the house.

This was our first study trip since Covid, made more poignant by memories of John Meagher, with whom Mark and Patrick had worked at de Blacam and Meagher, and by meeting our friend and former colleague Juan Echeverria, who shared current projects and reflected on how the practice continues to engage with the island.

One evening, dinner at La Paloma reminded us that atmosphere isn’t just about buildings. Simple lighting, garden planting, and the scents of herbs and citrus showed how setting and experience can define a place.

Ibiza revealed itself as a place of layered richness—medieval walls, sacred sites, modernist works, and everyday housing—all held together by light, stone, and topography. It’s a place that reminds you of the value of designing with sensitivity and attention to the small details that shape everyday life.