Can Lis and Can Feliz, two houses of Jorn Utzon

Monuments | Santanyí

Jorn Utzon and Mallorca: Can Lis and Can Feliz, two of his poetic architectural works on the island Jorn Utzon was one of the most relevant architects of the twentieth century. Born in 1918 in Copenhagen, Denmark, he studied in his native country and neighbouring Sweden, later furthering his knowledge in other countries such as France, Morocco, the US and Mexico. One of Utzon's most famous works, which took up a good part of his professional career, is the Sydney Opera House, which he worked on between 1956 and 1966. The work turned Utzon into the most exalted example of the architectural movement known as the Third Generation. Utzon decided to build a house in Mallorca in order to retire there in 1971. Can Lis, as this house on the cliffs of Portopetro was called, became an emblematic place over time for architecture students and professionals. In 1994, he built a new house farther from the coast. This building, called Can Feliz, provided a new refuge in S'Horta, Felanitx from which he could also contemplate the sea under the attentive gaze of the imposing Santueri Castle. Source: Jorn Utzon, Two Houses on Mallorca Federico Climent Ministry of Tourism, 2000