Can Lis, Jørn Utzon APARTMENT Magazine By Simon Watson

"When an architect designs and builds for himself, he has the opportunity to reach the limits of his own imagination."

—Line Nørskov Davenport

Enamored with the Mediterranean sunlight, Jørn Utzon's Can Lis is a visual ode to one of the most iconic houses of the 20th century. One of the earliest examples of site-inspired design, Can Lis sits on a Mallorcan cliff, almost hidden by the marés stone from which it was built. Simon Watson's photographs trace the movement of light across the complex that served as Utzon's family home for over two decades, his first permanent residence following his work at the Sydney Opera House. A curated selection of archival photographs, sketches, and plans drawn from Utzon's private collection guides readers from early plans of Can Lis to the everyday ways the house was inhabited.

A seminal essay by Utzon himself explores his relationship with nature, while the architect's son, Jan Utzon, recalls his family's connection to Mallorca in a conversation with Apartamento's editorial director, Robbie Whitehead. Evoking the island's endless horizon, Line Nørskov Davenport, exhibitions director at the Utzon Center, reflects on Utzon's departure from the Opera and the refuge he eventually found in Mallorca. "Is this paradise?" she asks upon seeing the initial sketch that inspired Can Lis, a dream eventually realized in the house's meditative views, disturbed only by the salty sea breeze. Can Lis by Jørn Utzon is sponsored by Ferm Living and features an exclusive foreword by Phillipp Materna, brand and design director.

Published by Apartamento Publishing SL
First edition: March 20, 2025
Dimensions: 240 x 285 mm.
Binding: hardcover.
Pages: 120.

ISBN: 978-84-09-68993-4