Isla Architects

isla is a Mallorca based architecture and design practice founded by Marta Colón de Carvajal and Juan Palencia.

Working with a contextual approach—starting from the place and the culture—isla focuses on revealing potentialities of what is already there, underlining the craftsmanship and knowledge of those who came before in order to craft a radically contemporary approach to each project. Beyond a predefined style or aesthetic, the office produces appropriate responses to each individual context, in collaboration with all the agents who are involved.

Marta Colón de Carvajal Salís (Palma de Mallorca, 1982) is a licensed Architect by the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM). Since 2008, she has worked in local & international offices in Madrid, Paris & Basel, engaging in various projects, from housing to museums, and different phases, from concept design to construction. From 2010 to 2017 she worked for Herzog & de Meuron, and took part in different large-scale projects such as the Museum in Doha, Qatar, BBVA Headquarters, Madrid, and the Tour Triangle, Paris, amongst others.

Juan Palencia de Sarriá (Madrid, 1981) is a licensed Architect by the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM), co-founder and curator of TEOK Basel, and teacher at the UNAB Campus Creativo, Santiago de Chile. Following his training, Juan worked with award winning studios, among them Langarita-Navarro Arquitectos, Estudio Luis Úrculo and HHF Architects. From 2013 to 2017 he collaborates with Burckhardt Partner as a Design Architect, working in various projects in Switzerland, such as the Grosspeter Tower in Basel, and the Schindler Headquarters in Ebikon.