Echoes of Palma
A former Palma institution begins a new life, carrying five generations of stories into the future.
For generations, Casa Roca was where Palma went to find almost anything. Today, the former stationery store has begun a new chapter, carrying its memories into a hotel shaped not only by architecture and design, but by the people whose lives unfolded within its walls.
Where the story began
Before it became a hotel, Casa Roca was woven into the fabric of Palma. Founded in 1847, it began with matches and cigarette papers before evolving into the city’s best-known papelería, a place of 12,000 catalogued objects and the local promise: “If you can’t find it anywhere in Mallorca, go to Casa Roca.”
Five generations of the Roca Torrents family lived and worked here. Children came for school supplies and Carnival costumes. Christmas crowds curled around the block. Employees who joined as teenagers remained until retirement, pencilling their names and years of service inside the clock cupboard.
The sixth custodian
When the building changed hands in 2016, its new custodians promised Catalina Torrents, the fifth generation to run the business, that its soul would not be erased. “We didn’t want to build another boutique hotel in Mallorca,” says Susan Butler, founder of Espais Roca. “We wanted to build something that had a history and had a story.” A decade-long restoration followed, preserving the original shopfront, marble, ironwork and timber while ledgers, postcards and century-old garments were returned to view.
The suites and residences now carry the names and stories of those who came before. Murals honour the founder, the women who kept the business alive and the employees rarely recorded in official histories. Guests can hear their stories, cook with ingredients gathered at Mercat de l’Olivar or linger over Mallorcan wine in the former shop.
Casa Roca has not been frozen in time. It has simply changed custodians. Susan Butler and her team have ensured that its story continues—not as a museum piece, but as a place where new memories are made. Here, history is lived in, added to and passed forward.
Casa Roca
Carrer dels Hostals, 27, 07002 Palma
Casaroca.com
The beauty of balance
A beautifully restored Alaró townhouse where thoughtful design quietly transforms the experience of everyday living.
Some homes simply stop people in their tracks. When this newly completed townhouse in the heart of Alaró was shared on our social media, it quickly became one of our most talked-about properties—and it’s not difficult to understand why. With four bedrooms, a private garden and pool, and beautifully restored interiors that balance historic Mallorcan character with contemporary craftsmanship, it captures the kind of effortless Mediterranean lifestyle so many people dream about.
Designed around life
Behind its traditional stone façade, original stone walls and arches sit comfortably alongside bespoke oak joinery, lime plaster and contemporary furnishings. Nothing feels unnecessary. Natural materials and changing light take centre stage.
Interior architect Mary Morrison believes great design lies in the details people rarely notice. “When a space works well, enjoyment and contentment follows,” she says. From where you place your keys to the flow between the kitchen and living spaces, every decision has been made to support the quiet rituals of everyday life.
Architects David Fernández and Joan Llobera restored the home’s original character rather than imposing something new. “The courtyard plays a central role,” says Fernández. “The house turns decisively towards it.” A carefully planned visual axis draws the eye from the entrance through the living spaces to the landscaped courtyard and pool, while upstairs, windows frame the Serra de Tramuntana like paintings. Four en-suite bedrooms and discreet modern comforts ensure the house works as beautifully as it looks.
Beauty in the details
Interior designer Laura Nathenson completed the vision with an understated palette that feels warm, tactile and timeless. “Luxury, for us, comes from quality, craftsmanship and a sense of ease rather than excess,” she explains. Stone, timber, linen and handcrafted finishes create richness through texture alone.
Like Alaró itself, it feels settled rather than styled. Nothing competes for attention, yet every room rewards a second look. Perhaps that’s why it struck such a chord with our audience. Rather than simply admiring it, you find yourself imagining the life you could build within its walls.
