Perched high above the azure waters of Cala Porroig on Ibiza’s southern coastline, an expansive 6,400-square-foot cliffside estate stands as a testament to the synthesis of architectural rigor, fine art collecting, and haute decoration. Owned by architect, designer, and principal of the famed Parisian design firm Pinto, Fahad Hariri, the eight-bedroom residence offers a serene counter-narrative to the Balearic island’s popular reputation as a nightlife capital.
Organized in the layout of a traditional Mediterranean village, the property features whitewashed volumes linked by tranquil courtyards, local stone walls, and exposed wood-beamed ceilings. Positioned directly above a quiet fishing bay, nearly every interior space commands unobstructed views across the Mediterranean Sea toward the neighboring island of Formentera.
Beyond its architectural merit, the residence represents a crucial turning point in Hariri’s career. Purchased initially as a personal summer retreat for his family, the multi-year decoration process sparked a close creative partnership with the team at Pinto—ultimately leading Hariri to acquire the legendary French design house in 2020. Today, the villa functions as both a private family refuge every August and an operational benchmark for Pinto’s signature approach to "structured maximalism."
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| ESTATE AT A GLANCE |
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| Location | Cala Porroig, Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain |
| Total Area | Approx. 6,400 sq. ft. |
| Accommodation | 8 Bedrooms, Multiple Indoor/Outdoor Lounges, Private Sundeck|
| Architecture Style | Modern Mediterranean / Village-Style Cluster |
| Key Features | Cliffside Staircase, Boat-Bow Sundeck, Custom Azulejos |
| Interior Design | Fahad Hariri in collaboration with Pinto (Pietro Scaglione) |
| Featured Fine Art | Alex Katz, Marina Abramović, Anselm Kiefer, Jack Pierson |
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Chronology of Acquisition and Transformation
The Search Across the Mediterranean (2010–2011)
Fourteen years ago, Fahad Hariri embarked on a search across Europe’s most exclusive coastal destinations to locate a vacation home. Seeking a refuge for his young family away from their primary residence in Paris, Hariri evaluated properties across the French Riviera and the Mediterranean basin, including Saint-Tropez, Cap Ferrat, Sardinia, and Mykonos.
Hariri ultimately selected Ibiza due to its unique natural geography, rich bohemian history, and multi-layered culture. After initially renting a villa along a secluded stretch of the island’s western coast, he narrowed his search to the southern shore. His goal was to achieve spatial equilibrium: remaining within proximity to Ibiza Town and favored coastal dining spots like Es Xarcu and Es Torrent, while maintaining complete privacy.
[2010] Initial search across Saint-Tropez, Cap Ferrat, Sardinia, Mykonos, and Ibiza
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[2011] Discovery of 1980s cliffside villa in Cala Porroig; 12-month contract negotiation
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[2012] Acquisition finalized; Hariri retains Studio Pinto (Linda Pinto & Pietro Scaglione)
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[2013] Fast-track interior furnishing completed ahead of summer high season
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[2020] Hariri officially acquires Studio Pinto, preserving the core creative team
Discovery and Extended Negotiations
In his search along the southern cliffs, Hariri discovered an estate built in the 1980s positioned directly above the waters of Cala Porroig. The home’s masonry-carved aesthetic offered an authentic sense of permanence, eschewing the glossy "white box" aesthetic of modern speculative construction in favor of organic integration into the cliffside.
Negotiations to acquire the residence extended over twelve months. When the purchase was finalized early in the spring, Hariri faced a compressed timeline: the 6,400-square-foot residence needed to be fully furnished and rendered habitable before the arrival of the island’s summer high season just a few months later.
The Pinto Collaboration and Subsequent Acquisition (2012–2020)
Because the structural footprint of the 1980s building was sound and required no major structural interventions, Hariri focused entirely on interior curation. To execute his vision within the abbreviated time limit, he engaged the Paris-based interiors firm Pinto. At the time, the studio was adjusting to the loss of its founder, the legendary interior designer Alberto Pinto, who had passed away shortly prior. Alberto’s sister, Linda Pinto, was leading the practice alongside artistic director Pietro Scaglione.
Working directly with Scaglione, Hariri plunged into bespoke furniture creation, archival sourcing, and buying trips through Parisian flea markets (brocantes). The project solidified a close creative alliance between Hariri and the studio. In 2020, when Linda Pinto decided to transition out of ownership, Hariri formally acquired Pinto. He retained the existing creative team, including Scaglione, and expanded the brand’s reach into custom furniture, tableware, and global architectural commissions.
Architectural & Interior Design Specifications
The design framework of the Cala Porroig estate blends mid-century Scandinavian and French furniture, bespoke architectural elements, and blue-chip contemporary artwork. The interiors balance vivid color narratives with raw, tactile surfaces.
Village-Style Typology: The residence consists of interconnected whitewashed pavilions surrounding central stone courtyards. This structure allows the home to feel intimate when occupied by solo family members, while accommodating large groups during summer gatherings.
Cliffside Sundeck: At the perimeter of the rear garden, a flight of stairs cut directly into the natural cliff face descends to the ocean’s edge. The staircase leads to a timber-clad sundeck shaped like the bow of a vessel, cantilevered over the water to accommodate chaise lounges and sun umbrellas.
Outdoor Reception Area: The covered loggia features a Sutherland outdoor sofa and armchairs arranged around a six-legged African plaster coffee table by John Dickinson. Mounted along the stone wall are four paintings by Lebanese artist Mona Trad, installed over vintage shuttered windows. A ceramic tulipiere by Dutch design studio Polspotten sits on an adjacent side table.
Interior Curation and Color Palette
The interior design strategy employs dedicated color stories to define individual living zones, ensuring distinct spatial identities throughout the large floor plan.
Artistic Interventions: Overhead hangs a custom bronze ceiling sculpture painted in bright coral. The surrounding walls feature an iconic portrait by American artist Alex Katz, alongside mixed-media works by Hassan Hajjaj and Arte Povera master Jannis Kounellis.
Furniture Composition: A solid-wood coffee table by French craftsman Pierre Chapo is paired with custom deep-seat sofas and a pair of vintage oak armchairs by Guillerme et Chambron. A sculpted bronze-and-alabaster candleholder by the Campana Brothers serves as a central accent.
Dining Area:
Historic Provenance: Anchoring the space behind the dining setup is a monumental eight-panel embossed cordoue leather screen featuring polychrome bird motifs, sourced directly from the personal collection of the late Alberto Pinto.
Textile Program: The forefront features a custom Bridgewater-style sofa upholstered in an unexpected coral-and-cream zebra print, balancing the historical gravity of the leather screen.
Indoor-Outdoor Breakfast Room:
Custom Tile Installations: The focal wall displays a hand-painted azulejos tile mural created by Paris-based studio Atelier Almaviva, depicting a detailed 17th-century Portuguese maritime port scene.
Complementary Collections: Opposite the ceramic mural, Hariri curated an installation of rare vintage Delft pottery plates. Teak bridge dining chairs by Sutherland surround the breakfast tables, illuminated by hanging glass lanterns fitted with coral-painted branches.
Blue Guest Suite:
Monochromatic Focus: Designed around a coastal marine palette, the guest suite features framed artwork including Rafael, a fine-art photograph by American artist Jack Pierson, positioned above an artisanal timber writing desk. Large glass doors open directly onto a private stone terrace overlooking the water.
Statements & Strategic Vision
The residential project served as a creative testing ground where Hariri refined his architectural philosophy, combining rigorous structural planning with expressive decorative layers.
Reflecting on his decision to settle on the island, Hariri noted:
"I had looked everywhere—Saint-Tropez, Cap Ferrat, Sardinia, Mykonos. There is something very natural about living in Ibiza. Ibiza is multidimensional. There’s a culture of hippies here, there’s nightlife, there’s the sea, but it also has a family vacation vibe."
Regarding the site selection and the architectural integration of the 1980s home into its natural terrain, Hariri emphasized:
"I liked the idea of having a home that seemed like it’s always been there and not just a white box on the sea. This place felt like it was carved out of stone. The house was carved out in a really intelligent way that gave priority to the different views while also creating these little indoor and outdoor nooks. Regardless of whether I come with several people or on my own, I don’t feel like I’m in this big house."
Hariri’s design philosophy hinges on balancing bold colors, patterns, and historical antiques without overwhelming the native architecture:
"I’ve always embraced maximalism, but it has to be within a structure. I think it’s about dosing the boldness, so that it can breathe."
The collaborative dynamic between Hariri and Pinto artistic director Pietro Scaglione fundamentally altered Hariri’s career trajectory:
"[Pietro Scaglione] became my mentor, basically. I call this a collaboration because we were able to bring our two universes together: I was architect and collector, and then he brought the softness and the poetry of Pinto."
Now managing the global design house while preserving its core creative studio, Hariri reflects on the personal significance of the estate:
"I found my passion, in part, thanks to this house. I wanted a place that reflected the multilayered side of Ibiza, and I think that’s what we were able to accomplish."
Industry Implications & Long-Term Legacy
Fahad Hariri’s acquisition and stewardship of both the Cala Porroig estate and Studio Pinto highlight several notable shifts in the luxury interior design and architecture landscape:
PINTO BRAND EVOLUTION
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CORE INTERIORS PRODUCT EXPANSION ANNUAL RETREAT
Custom residential & Tableware, furniture, Ibiza villa used as a
commercial projects and brand collaborations design lab every August
Evolution of the Haute Décor Studio:
The transition of ownership from the Pinto family to a client and practicing architect represents a model for preserving historic design houses. By retaining Alberto Pinto’s original artisans and creative team—including Pietro Scaglione—Hariri preserved the studio’s technical expertise while modernizing its commercial strategy.
Expansion into Fine Product Design:
Under Hariri’s direction since 2020, Pinto has expanded beyond high-end interior architecture services into consumer-facing luxury products. The firm now launches structured collections spanning bespoke furniture, lighting, and artisanal tableware. Many of these lines directly reflect the material combinations tested in Hariri’s personal residences—such as glazed ceramics, custom leatherwork, and sculpted bronze.
Redefining Coastal Mediterranean Interiors:
The Ibiza residence challenges the prevailing minimalism that dominated Mediterranean resort design during the 2010s. By incorporating blue-chip modern art (originally acquired for a commercial development in Dubai), antique European pottery, and high-contrast textiles into a vernacular stone structure, Hariri helped pioneer a move toward layered, art-centric coastal design.
Operational Model for Creative Leadership:
Every August, Studio Pinto closes its Paris headquarters for annual recess, allowing Hariri to return to the Cala Porroig estate with his three children. The retreat serves both as a private escape and an ongoing design studio where new materials, outdoor fabrics, and spatial layouts are evaluated in real-world conditions. The estate remains a foundational bridge between Pinto’s storied past and its modern vision.
