Featured Story  ·  Lifestyle

THE HOLISTIC CONVERT

December 6, 2023

TEXT MONISHA SIVANESAN

IMAGES COURTESY OF ANA LUI & JOHN PAWSON FOR SABINA

SIGNALLING A DRAMATIC RHYTHMIC SHIFT ON THE AGGRESSIVELY ENERGETIC BALEARIC ISLAND IS AN ECO-CONSCIOUS HIDEOUT, PERSUADING PLEASURESEEKERS TO UNRESERVEDLY EMBRACE A DIFFERENT WAY OF LIVING IN THE MOMENT.

Ibiza has long been acknowledged as a mecca of infinite hedonism, its once backwater landscape turned hippie haven soon roaring with hardcore, all-day parties for decades on end. Lately, the atmosphere has been evolving to embrace a more thoughtful and sustainable way of life, adopting a new-found maturity and calmer energy — not to mention, favouring smaller, more intimate gatherings for a refreshing change of pace. Retreating to the quieter culture of its past through a conscious collaborative effort is Sabina, the Spanish island’s first ecologically inspired private villa estate and clubhouse enriched with five-star facilities.

Set on a west coast hillside above the Cala Tarida beach puckered with ancient terraces, the retreat is protected from behind by mountains that rise up to Sa Talaia and faces an open expanse of the shimmering Mediterranean Sea; it’s a sight for sore eyes, to say the least. This scenery at Sabina is fundamental to its architecture, a co-dependence between the cultivated and the wild. Laidback but elegant, the brainchild of founders Anton Bilton, Glyn Hirsch and Agustín del Pino was designed by a multinational circle of well-renowned architects and designers.
Three of the island’s leading Spanish architectural designers – Rolf Blakstad, Jordi Carreño and Jaime Romano – created 13 villas for Maestral, the project’s BREEAM certificate of Excellence-winning first phase. Nestled within 17 hectares of countryside, each villa is kept unique despite sharing a design scheme that remains sympathetic to Ibiza’s natural beauty. Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus then joined the trio to create 11 new villas for the second phase entitled ‘Gregal’.

Siroco and Levante, Sabina’s third and fourth phases respectively, consist of 21 villas which materialised at the hands of the aforementioned designers together with similar masterminds like the UK’s Sir David Chipperfield, Mexico’s Elias Rizo and Brazil’s Marcio Kogan. Sabina’s Head of Design, Begoña Sebastian, brought her own wealth of experience to devise villas in these two phases as well as sophisticated, mellow interiors which focus on natural materials and a neutral colour palette.
Another highly influential designer that took part in bringing the Sabina villas to life is London-based John Pawson CBE. Can Adelfa and Can Almendro, his two commissioned villas, exhibit his adoration for rigorously minimalist architecture to represent his vision of calm and considered spaces that offer unique experiences. Lavish to the brim, both boast 7 bedrooms, a 25-metre-long swimming pool, guesthouse, cinema, wine cellar and TV room as well as unrivalled panoramic sunset and sea views. However, Can Adelfa does go a step further to include a pool house.

Although intentionally generous in size to accommodate plenty of occupants, the villas succeed in remaining intimate. Local limestone and whitewash helped the architecture blend in with the landscape, giving the impression of volumes that are embedded into the hill rather than rising from it. Going green is a must for the client, hence the use of glass is restricted and the walls are made extra thick to insulate against the heat or cold, ensuring the temperature inside stays relatively stable.
Once Blakstad finished designing the 22,600 square feet Sabina Clubhouse which fused the fundamentals of Ibizan tradition with a contemporary style, Lázaro Rosa-Violán came in to fill the interiors with complementary materials such as stuccos, wooden beams, limestone floors, cane pergolas, hydraulics and tiles to characterise the space. Features of the clubhouse include a restaurant, spa, tennis and paddle courts, nightclub, bowling alley, kids’ club, Temple, amphitheatre as well as 24-hour security and personal concierge services.

Already a top culinary hotspot on the island, the restaurant offers relaxed dining during the day for its members and residents, and a more inventive menu in the evenings when it opens to the general public on key days according to the season. It is curated by the team behind La Paloma, the island’s much-loved authentic Ibizan restaurant, and its kitchen is led by Executive Chef Shahar Tamir whose resume includes the acclaimed Noma restaurant in Copenhagen.
A spiritual ethos runs throughout the whole estate; this is a given considering Sabina is named after the sacred tree of Ibiza which represents the divine essence of nature. Ergo, art consultant Elizabeth Smith curated an exceptional art and sculpture collection under the theme of ‘Spirit’ to display all around. With works by established artists such as Sir Antony Gormley OBE and Marc Quinn, and up-and-coming names including Alex Grey and Sukhi Barber, guests are enabled to connect with beauty, spirituality and nature in wonderment.

Sustainability and ecology are at the heart of the vision for Sabina, with the founders pushing the boundaries of what should be expected in a high-end residential development. “…We wanted to achieve this one of the most eco-innovative private developments in Europe] without compromising on beauty and design. This balance between nature, design and technology is only possible through sustainable construction,” comments Bilton, co-founder of Sabina Estates.
 
Catching a break from psychedelic flashes of artificial light and blasts of deafening beats, the natural atmosphere of Ibiza is now allowed to take centre stage in the form of Sabina. Easy-going yet exclusive, the epitome of luxurious slow living is captured in every detail to turn around-the-clock partygoers into enlightened free spirits.
“…WE WANTED TO ACHIEVE THIS [ONE OF THE MOST ECO-INNOVATIVE PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPE] WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON BEAUTY AND DESIGN. THIS BALANCE BETWEEN NATURE, DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION.”

ANTON BILTON,
Co-founder of Sabina Estates
For more information, please visit www.johnpawson.com and www.sabinaibiza.com