The Palimpsesto. Can Gabriel project is a proposal to renovate a 1960s building located in the historic center of Palma de Mallorca, which is aligned with the principle of affordable housing in terms of cost, while combining this with a high standard of quality. It is one of the most outstanding and award-winning residential projects in Spain in recent years, starting with an empty apartment with few pre-existing elements, merely structural: the framework, perimeter walls, and downspouts.
However, although few in number, these elements have been preserved in the new image of the building, like traces of previous writing in an ancient manuscript: this is a “palimpsest,” re-engraved, hence the name of the design by TEd’A arquitectes. Among the awards it has received, the 2025 La Casa de la Arquitectura Innovation Award (ex aequo) stands out, given for its originality and use of a didactic, clear, and functional language.
We can also mention its selection as an award-winning project at the 17th Spanish Architecture and Urbanism Biennial (BEAU), thus underlining its value as an exemplary intervention in contemporary residential heritage. It was also a finalist in the latest edition of the FAD Architecture and Interior Design Awards, reinforcing its impact on architectural design.
Minimal demolition, maximum reuse
The project is based on this philosophy of circular economy, resource utilization, and waste reduction. This means that the existing concrete structure is preserved, and repaired flooring made from marble pieces is incorporated, suturing the “wounds” of the old layout.
Natural cork is also introduced for the insulation of the building and ceramics are used, combinations that promote the values of the New European Bauhaus initiative: Sustainability, Inclusion, and Beauty.
Mediterranean identity
The design reveals not only the technical history of the site, but also seeks to connect with the idiosyncrasies of the environment in terms of facilities, materials, and volumes. The use of materials commonly found in the Mediterranean islands, such as ceramics and wood, reinforces the project’s relationship with the building culture of the Balearic Islands.
It also promotes greater spatial flexibility and accessibility, as the three wooden rooms are arranged in a staggered pattern, forming equilateral triangles, which allows for new ways of inhabiting and reconfiguring the space over time and according to the needs of each inhabitant.
