I met Philippe Rotthier, Belgian architect, in the summer of 1982, in the beach bar that he set up on the beach of Sa Caleta, known as “El Rincon del Marino.”
Several years later, we met again in the professional field of architecture.
Philippe, is passionate about traditional Ibizan architecture, and has developed several studies and publications on this subject, culminating these studies in an essential book, the peasant palace, or The Payes Palace.
Philippe Rotthier has also played an active role in the preservation of the architectural heritage of Ibiza, mainly through the Workshop d'Estudis de l'Habitat Pitiús (TEHP), founded by him in 1985, and of which he is an active part along with many other professionals and friends.
In addition, in 1982 he founded the European Prize for the Reconstruction of the City and in 1986 the Foundation for Architecture in Brussels, which materializes in the Archives de l'Architecture Moderne (AAM).
Starting in 1986, we began to collaborate in the development of various architectural projects together with my partner, also an architect Xefo Guasch.
The work basically consisted of adapting to the archaic and traditional Ibizan housing, of the means and modern lifestyles, but maintaining an essence and purity, both in the shapes, volumes, proportions and construction systems of a lifetime, looking for the original materials and the artisan methods in their constructive solutions.
This stage was fruitful in the publications of the works in which we collaborated, especially in three: Maisons sur l'île d'Ibiza (1990), architectural architectures Ibiza (1997) and XXX to Ibiza (2003).
It was about another way of understanding architecture, signified by a traditional work method, taking care of the relationship of the habitat with the immediate environment to avoid the transformation of the landscape.
Philippe has been an important piece for the conservation of the cultural and natural heritage of Ibiza, in promoting the awareness of inhabitants and, consequently, of politicians, at a key time, by disclosing and warning that excessive development would inevitably lead to overexploitation, and that would spell a dramatic end to the island's charm and beauty.
In 2011 he founded the Museum of Architecture – the loge in Brussels, dedicated to contemporary creation.
- 1987 CANA LLUCA. Cala D’Hort.
- 1988 CAN PERE DES CIEL. San Carlos
- 1989 CAN PAS. Es Cubells.
- 1989 CAN GERXU. San Jose.
- 1991 CAN LLUQUI. San Carlos.
- 1992 CAN JORDI. Formentera.
- 1996 CAN ROIG DE DALT. Jesus.
- 1996 CAN PEP RAMON. Santa Eulalia.
- 1998 CANA PUXA. Jesus.
- 1999 CAN MIQUEL ROIG. Santa Gertrudis.
- 2001 CAN CANALS. Buscastells.