REGENERATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Taking an 18th-century farmhouse and outbuildings and crafting a home for the 21st-century requires vision, skill and determination. Fortunately, Vestige Estudio, our talented team of architects, landscapers and interior designers, rose to the challenge. Every step of the restoration honoured the property’s history and our commitment to sustainability. By using traditional building methods and materials, such as limestone walls and local marés sandstone, and enlisting expert local craftspeople, we’ve ensured that the property remains faithful to its heritage while offering a harmonious blend of comfort and elegance for your stay.

At its core, a restoration project must embrace the landscape with a deep respect for the existing scenery. Our goal is always to make minimal changes, removing as little as possible while subtly enhancing the natural beauty of the land. To date, we’ve created an orchard near the swimming pool which, over time, will frame the space with dappled shade, and planted over 60 native trees, including pomegranate, fig, cypress and olive.
The benefits are already evident: the trees attract pollinating insects and provide shelter and food for wildlife, while regenerating soil nutrients encourage new growth. Closer to the house, we chose bamboo for the terrace space, a natural material resistant to weathering. While we focus on the building’s immediate surroundings, our broader aim is to embed the property within its natural environment, creating a symbiosis with our surroundings.

As you relax on a mix of antique and contemporary furniture, your eye may be drawn to the skilfully restored wooden beams above or the original stone archways that guide you from one elegant space to the next. These inspiring original features blend seamlessly with muted wall colours and natural linen fabrics, including jute and raffia rugs chosen for their warm neutral tones, enlivened by occasional pops of colour. A carefully curated selection of contemporary art and objets adds to the uncluttered and airy feel. Bathrooms are adorned with natural limestone and copper fixtures, both featuring a unique patina.

Uncovering the secrets hidden within an ancient estate is always an exciting part of a restoration project and often guides our approach. One of the fascinating discoveries at Santa Ana was a series of ancient stones encircling the estate, carved to capture the flow of rainwater to naturally conserve precious water resources.
A significant aspect of the restoration involved recovering the original beams and wooden structures. Lime, with its hypoallergenic properties, was fundamental to the project, helping the building and its residents breathe well. When mixed with natural pigments, it forms unique colours and patterns. We always work with, rather than against, the materials found on-site; for instance, excavated stone was repurposed for exterior flooring and extracted sand was used in mortars for grouting the floors.