Spain, El Moli de L’Estany
Set in the heart of the Costa Brava, in the town of Llagostera, El Molí de l’Estany is a singular architectural work designed by RCR Arquitectes, winners of the 2017 Pritzker Prize.
The project encompasses two architectural areas – the avant-garde El Pavelló de l’Estany and the historic Llagostera mill, known as El Molí Gotarra – nestled within an estate of over 5,000 m2 surrounded by rolling hills, cultivated fields, and forests.
The approach to the estate winds through wooded areas and lush lawns before reaching the historic 19th-century mill. Respectfully restored by RCR Arquitectes, the building preserves its original stone walls and now hosts a professional kitchen equipped with a Bulthaup b2 system.
A massive steel table appears to float within the room, linking the kitchen to the outdoor relaxation area. Here, a small stream – once the source that powered the mill – recalls the site’s ancestral bond with water, adding further character to the setting.
Just steps away, where the estate’s pond once stood, rises the heart of the project: El Pavelló de l’Estany. Completed in 2006, the striking elongated steel-and-glass pavilion defines the project’s identity. A succession of undulating stainless-steel frames, supported by slender flat pillars, reflect the water and surrounding landscape, creating shimmering light effects that blur the boundaries between indoors and out.
Built on two levels, the pavilion’s upper floor houses a spacious living area furnished with an array of Flexform pieces. These include a light-hued Groundpiece sofa paired with a Fly console and Giano ottoman. Adjacent, the sunken dining room is home to the Zefiro table with wood top paired with Alma dining chairs. A large covered terrace with barbecue connects the interior with the garden and is furnished with a Desco Outdoor dining table surrounded by Echoes Outdoor dining chairs, as well as an Atlante sofa with a generously proportioned Phuket ottoman.
The more-intimate lower floor accommodates five guest suites, each featuring private bath and beds designed by artist Sergi Cadenas, as well as an indoor pool in black granite, a spa zone and a living space furnished with the Groundpiece sofa, Ozzy ottomans and Jiff side tables.
One last element links the pavilion to the historic mill, creating a fluid transition between the two structures.
Courtesy: RCR Arquitectes / Ph. Eugeni Pons
