Breaking bread: Jasper Morrison creates a small but mighty bakery in Mallorca

With its simple red-and-white striped awning and distinctive oval window set into its façade, this tiny bakery tucked away in Palma de Mallorca’s El Terreno neighbourhood has more than a touch of Wes Anderson charm about it. Named 'Can Pa' – meaning 'house of bread' – it is the result of a special collaboration between celebrated British designer Jasper Morrison and Mallorcan tile artisans Huguet, facilitated by the social organisation Esment.

The project for the bakery emerged as part of Gomila Mallorca – Spanish footwear brand Camper’s regeneration plan for the El Terreno neighbourhood, a once-vibrant nightlife area that had fallen into decline. Following the renovation of apartments with Dutch architects MVRDV, Camper turned its attention to local amenities, opening a café on Plaça Gomila designed by Michel Charlot and commissioning Morrison to design Can Pa. The bakery is run by Esment, a charitable foundation that provides employment and training for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

'Jasper Morrison is one of those fantastic personalities we are fortunate to welcome frequently to our island,' smiles Biel Huguet, third-generation owner of his eponymous, family-run tile company, which has been manufacturing hydraulic tiles on the island since 1933. 'From the very beginning of this project, a close collaboration was established, with each party bringing the best of their expertise to the table. His trust in the essence of what we do made this collaboration flow organically.'

Inside, visitors are greeted by rows of fresh bread and pastries, displayed behind timber-framed glass – 'a modern take on what you can find in old Mallorcan bakeries,' Morrison tells us. The counter is made from stone quarried in the local town of Binissalem, while wooden shelves are lined with jars of local jams and olive oil. Underfoot, Morrison specified a perfect grid of classic 25x25 centimetre brick red tiles, and overhead, the traditional vaulted ceiling is made up of curved clay tiles also produced by Huguet.

'The site was quite unappealing, being a low and narrow shop,' Morrison explains. 'But it had the advantage of being set back from the road with a courtyard in front of it, walled in by the neighbouring buildings. I realised it needed an expressive character to overcome its disadvantages, so we worked on giving it the loaf-shaped window with a door in the middle and having the small table and bench to sit at in the courtyard. Using the Huguet materials and techniques, we created characterful pieces that help to express the bakery as a destination, complementing the quality of Can Pa's baking. Overall, I wanted the bakery to feel local and like it had always been there.'

In his typical punctilious fashion, Morrison designed every last detail of the bakery's interior and exterior, including bespoke furniture for the terrace. The cement bench and table, made locally at Huguet's Campos factory, are designed for easy assembly and disassembly without the need for resins, silicones, or other chemical elements, making them 100 per cent recyclable. Meanwhile, the terrazzo sign, featuring a logotype designed by renowned Argentinian graphic designer Mario Eskenazi, is built into the wall outside in large lettering using a traditional technique.

'A hundred years ago, terrazzo was used to create lettering integrated directly into architecture, blending functionality and aesthetics in a lasting way,' explains Huguet, who is no stranger to collaborating with design royalty, having welcomed Pentagram, Herzog & de Meuron, David Chipperfield, and Patricia Urquiola to the island to create bespoke work. 'In our case, as we always strive to do, we decided to bring this technique up to date.'

Although it was Huguet's first time working with terrazzo lettering, the team embraced the opportunity and conducted numerous tests to refine the process. 'This was a challenge, not only because of the complexity of the lettering but also because it involved a large, self-supporting piece. We are very happy with the result; it's a sign that will last forever.'

Can Pa provides employment and training for 40 individuals with intellectual disabilities, supported by nine professional bakers. The intention is that the project will not only positively impact those working there but also help revitalise the El Terreno community and strengthen its social fabric.

Can Pa, Avinguda de Joan Miró, 37, Ponent, 07015 Palma, Ponent, Spain

jaspermorrison.com
huguetmallorca.com

Image 1 of 8