Why I recommend e20 Arquitectos in Palma

The office sits unpretentiously in a residential neighborhood of Palma, not in a design palace, and that suits their way of working. Founded and led by Gonzalo, the team is made up of architects, technical draftsmen and project managers who are all locally connected. Their offering is comprehensive: design, permit planning, energy consultancy, tendering and construction management – in Spanish and English. I particularly liked how they approach projects: first listening, then sketching, and finally thinking pragmatically about implementation. One example: in a small town house in Santa Catalina they oriented the rooms to minimize summer heat and strategically placed windows to let winter sunlight reach deep into the living room. That’s not a design gimmick, that’s everyday practicality. Their collaboration with local craftsmen is a plus. They know the differences between Mallorcan lime plaster and modern breathable systems, know which carpenters in the Plaça Major build good, sustainable cabinets and which construction companies reliably keep deadlines. Administratively they take care of permits and conversations with the municipality – that saves time and nerves. Practical: they show material samples on site, walk the plot with you and often make early photo documentation of the construction status. From this a realistic schedule emerges. If you want someone who understands architecture not as a show but as a living space, you will feel that at e20.

The office sits unpretentiously in a residential neighborhood of Palma, not in a design palace, and that suits their way of working. Founded and led by Gonzalo, the team is made up of architects, technical draftsmen and project managers who are all locally connected. Their offering is comprehensive: design, permit planning, energy consultancy, tendering and construction management – in Spanish and English. I particularly liked how they approach projects: first listening, then sketching, and finally thinking pragmatically about implementation. One example: in a small town house in Santa Catalina they oriented the rooms to minimize summer heat and strategically placed windows to let winter sunlight reach deep into the living room. That’s not a design gimmick, that’s everyday practicality. Their collaboration with local craftsmen is a plus. They know the differences between Mallorcan lime plaster and modern breathable systems, know which carpenters in the Plaça Major build good, sustainable cabinets and which construction companies reliably keep deadlines. Administratively they take care of permits and conversations with the municipality – that saves time and nerves. Practical: they show material samples on site, walk the plot with you and often make early photo documentation of the construction status. From this a realistic schedule emerges. If you want someone who understands architecture not as a show but as a living space, you will feel that at e20.

Their process is dialogical and organized in stages: analysis of the plot and the surroundings, several design proposals, selection of materials and finally detailed execution plans. Communication is pragmatic: regular site visits, photo updates and transparent cost overviews. I like that they openly address mistakes and offer solutions – that avoids surprises during the construction phase.

A local office knows the routine questions: which neighbors are sensitive, how the municipality handles inspections and which climatic peculiarities on the west coast make the use of certain materials necessary. If you build in Mallorca, you benefit enormously from this knowledge. In addition, this often creates a close connection to regional craftsmen who have experience with traditional techniques – and the work runs more smoothly when everyone is available at the right season.