Villa Elevado: The evolving home

The decision to demolish came quickly; the decision-making that followed proved difficult. Working with architect Jaime alongside Jurjen van Hulzen of island-based studio Ibiza Interiors, he embraced a long, iterative process. Sketches evolved, materials were reconsidered, spaces were redrafted in response to the smallest shifts of light. What could have been a straightforward build became instead a slow attuning to the setting.

The footprint was also doubled, but not solely for scale. “It was about creating different moods and quiet corners, spaces that stay connected to the sea, the garden and the slow pace of the island.” What followed was an ongoing conversation between Frederic, Jaime and Jurjen about what the site wanted to become.

Then came the distance. “Unfortunately, I was kept away for two years during the pandemic,” Frederic explains. “I had a concept of what I wanted, but the real vision came from the people I trusted. They carried the project through stress, surprises and more complications than I care to remember. Jaime and Jurjen took the fragments of my brief and turned them into something coherent.”

Environmental sensitivity played an equally defining role. Shaping the design was Frederic’s hopes for it to sit gently on the land, influenced by years spent working on offshore wind farms, large solar projects and carbon-neutral data centres. Alongside water recycling and reverse osmosis for drinking water, solar panels were installed to reduce environmental impact. “They weren’t just added to be special features,” he notes. “They were simply the right choices. It was incredibly important to me that we created a home that delivered comfort without unnecessary waste.”

In every sense, Villa Elevado is designed with sensitivity in mind. Predominantly local materials contribute to both structure and style, all in earthy tones that echo the setting. Stone that mirrors the cliff beneath it. Wood that feels warm even in shade. It’s a palette that, as Frederic puts it, feels inherited rather than curated.

Jurjen echoes this sentiment, noting that working on the island has the benefit of exposing his team to the natural elements that inspire each build. “We wanted Villa Elevado to be at one with its surroundings – to make connections with the landscape and keep them intact,” he says.

Frederic agrees, contending that with luxury there’s a greater responsibility to tread lightly. “These homes often sit in the most beautiful but sensitive settings,” he muses. “You want to respect the landscape and the realities of the island. A home should feel generous to the people who stay in it, and gentle to the place that hosts it. That balance is what makes it truly special.”

When Frederic finally returned, the house was nearing completion, as close to perfect as possible though that was never the goal. “Beauty matters, but so does the sense that the house supports you and the way you want to live,” he says. “Longevity, adaptability and spaces that encourage wellbeing were the metrics.”

Here, the ability to evolve and adapt mattered more than any fixed idea of design. Sunrise yoga spaces that become evening settings; an outdoor dining area that transforms with the seasons; rooms that adapt to different energies, different gatherings and different states of mind. There’s even calming spots to take a call for “when work inevitably follows you on holiday,” laughs Frederic. “If a space can evolve, it can support anyone – whether that’s different guests with different needs, or future versions of you.”

The home also marked the beginning of a much larger creative arc, sparking the development of several villas in Bali. “It surprised me how much I loved the process. Not the building itself, but creating a place that people I care about could enjoy. Their reactions made the whole journey worthwhile.”

Back in Ibiza, Villa Elevado’s evolution continues. New pieces that subtly alter the living room’s gravity. Adjustments to the landscape that reveal new sightlines to the sea. And elements that keep everyday routines in check – from a closed, air-conditioned gym and infrared sauna to staff quarters and a security office.

As the island changes, the villa adapts in tandem. “Ibiza grows more and more popular every year, but the last thing I want is to be thinking about safety or logistics when I’m here,” explains Frederic. Though the home sits within Roca Llisa – subject to controlled entry and year-round patrols – a connected alarm system was added, alongside space for guests to bring in private security or drivers if needed. But for Frederic, they’re simply quiet reassurances in a setting that “already feels incredibly safe”. 

“There’s a real sense of peace to the home, but I’m glad it’s so much more than that. That it can change with us. I think homes that stop changing become museums,” reflects Frederic. “Beautiful, maybe. But lifeless.”

Villa Elevado, by contrast, feels alert – almost responsive. Not polished, but gently refined. “Truthfully, the project still hasn’t ended,” he continues. “The house evolves as we live in it, and maybe that’s the point. It wasn’t meant to be a perfect object; it was meant to be a place that grows with the people who stay there.”

This open-endedness is perhaps why the home has resonated so strongly with guests. With the capacity to shift, soften and accommodate different rhythms of life, it’s as intuitive for week-long stays as it is for long summer escapes.

Villa Elevado is available to rent from €43,500.