Son Vell’s Landscaping Director Takes Us Inside the Hotel’s Sustainably Restored Gardens
March 5, 2025 by Hidden Doorways
Set amid Menorca’s bucolic countryside, Son Vell’s magnificent 18th-century manor house is complemented by thoughtfully designed gardens that enhance the guest experience of this historic estate. What began as a restoration project has blossomed into a testament to sustainable landscaping, with thriving biodiversity now evident throughout the property. We spoke with Inés Martínez de la Puente Martínez, Director of Landscaping at Vestige Estudio, who has overseen both the restoration and ongoing management of Son Vell’s gardens since Vestige Collection acquired the property. She reveals the philosophy and careful planning behind Son Vell’s living landscape that now buzzes with bees and flutters with butterflies throughout the seasons.
When Vestige first acquired Son Vell, what state were the gardens in, and what initial challenges did you face in beginning their restoration?
So our work encompassed an existing garden directly around the manor house of Son Vell which was in relatively good condition and then the challenge of the working farm area with dilapidated buildings and empty land around it – a far greater undertaking.
For the manor house gardens, it was more a question of restoring the garden, removing a few non-native species and adding to the existing plants. But when it came to outbuildings we had to create gardens from scratch. They needed to have a different feeling being around less ‘formal’ buildings and closer to nature, so the planting scheme needed to be looser and wilder in feel.
Could you walk us through your team’s overall vision for Son Vell’s gardens?
Son Vell’s gardens are extensive and were a key part of the original plan for the honey-hued 18th century manor house, so we wanted to honor that past.
We have planted many ancient olive trees, created hedgerows, and islands of plants with the intention of growing a calming, harmonious and elegant garden, but also to add to a feeling of privacy for the bedrooms so guests can relax on their own terraces, access their suites directly from the garden.
How does the vision for the landscape align with Vestige’s broader philosophy of restoration and sustainability?
By restoring the properties and creating new gardens we are creating environments for wildlife to thrive. Planting a wide range of native plant species helps promote biodiversity. Our concept of redevelopment, both in architectural terms and in landscaping, is about taking the best from the past and understanding that local and natural is often the best solution to our creative challenges.
We understand you’ve incorporated native species throughout the gardens. What influenced your plant selection process, and how do these choices reflect Menorca’s natural landscape?
Selecting native species means we know they will be adapted to the soil, to the climate, and they will need less water after some years. In the two years since we have created our gardens at Son Vell the amount of watering needed as the plants establish themselves has already gone down – and what’s also great is that we use recycled water to irrigate the gardens.
Beyond aesthetics, what role do the gardens play in the guest experience at Son Vell? Are there specific spaces or moments within the landscape that you hope will leave a lasting impression?
The gardens are amazing, full of different colors and textures. They embrace the bedrooms’ surroundings, guests need to walk through them to get to the pool, the restaurants or the manor house. They are richly fragrant and the increased wildlife is a joy – they buzz with bees and delicate butterflies.
There are also specially designed areas, like our night garden, which guests discover and where we create intimate private dining experiences, which we feel will leave gorgeous lasting memories.
Could you tell us about some of the specific ways your planting strategy has enhanced biodiversity?
In Son Vell’s garden there are native species planted in different patterns and with varied spacing, to create areas of both sun and shadow that attract wildlife. The mix of flowers, fruits and even the use of dry stone walls with their crevices allow wildlife, particularly bees and other insects, to make their homes with us and flourish.
Looking ahead, how do you see these gardens evolving as they continue to mature? Are there particular elements you’re most excited to watch develop?
Son Vell was finished in summer 2023, after almost two years we have seen it growing and evolving, every spring it’s a spectacle. It’s really exciting seeing new spots (like the pomegranate orchard where yoga takes place) for 2025 and the changes during the year, from almond trees flowering in February to pomegranates with their rich red fruit in October.
