Apartment ALEGRANZA Lanzarote
At first glance, it looks like an ordinary holiday apartment. In reality, it was one of the most challenging renovations we've completed on Lanzarote. The original layout worked against the apartment. The main living spaces faced a narrow service alley, while the terrace remained disconnected from everyday life. So we did what every renovation sometimes requires. We stopped respecting the original floor plan. Apartment Alegranza is part of the Weybeach Finca Marisa resort and became the pilot project for the gradual renovation of the entire complex. Choosing the colour palette on Lanzarote doesn't take long. Just look out of the window. White walls, green joinery and terracotta accents inspired by the surrounding volcanic landscape.
When the bedroom made way for the kitchen
Yes, we removed a bedroom. Otherwise, the apartment would never have gained direct access to the terrace, and the living area would still end with a view of a narrow service corridor. The kitchen was moved into the former bedroom and connected to the dining and living areas. We also added new windows and enlarged the existing openings by removing the parapets, bringing much more daylight and better views inside. The kitchen is built from masonry. It is considerably more durable than a conventional fitted kitchen. And on Lanzarote, waiting months for a carpenter simply wasn't part of the plan. We followed the same principle in the renovation of Villa Amonita, where the kitchen was also relocated into the former bedroom. This time we even preserved the original ceramic tiles as a reminder of the building's history. Retro ceramic flooring clearly defines the social heart of the apartment. It is one of the design elements that will reappear throughout the remaining apartments in the resort.
An interior designed to survive guests
Designing a holiday rental is very different from designing a family home. Guests stay for a week. The furniture has to last for years. We looked for pieces that are comfortable, visually calm and capable of handling everyday use. We wanted to avoid both anonymous catalogue interiors and fragile design icons that won't survive the first suitcase. Alegranza became the pilot apartment for the entire Weybeach Finca Marisa resort. We weren't designing a single interior but establishing a system for future apartments. Each one will be different, yet all of them will speak the same architectural language. We approached the Graudenz Apartments in much the same way. This is also where perforated concrete blocks first appeared. On Lanzarote you quickly learn to appreciate every interesting material that is actually available. Today, they have become something of a signature element in our projects across the island.
A bedroom without unnecessary extras
Interiors designed for short-term rentals require a different way of thinking than homes for permanent living. Every decision has to withstand hundreds of guests. We describe our approach in more detail on our page about Investment Property Interiors. That's why we built the beds from masonry. Not because we dislike carpenters. But because a masonry platform doesn't creak, doesn't fall apart and won't need replacing after a few years. And when it comes to carpenters... on Lanzarote you never really know whether they'll be ready next month or next season. One bedroom was designed as a flexible space. The mattresses can be arranged either as a double bed or as two separate single beds. We applied the same thinking to storage. Fewer built-in wardrobes mean fewer problems with humidity and easier maintenance. The volcano view stayed exactly where it works best. Directly opposite the bed.
A bathroom designed as a system
This apartment served another purpose as well. We needed to design a bathroom that could easily be adapted for the remaining apartments in the resort. A generous walk-in shower, a spacious vanity and a partially separated toilet. A simple layout that works regardless of the apartment's size. We followed the same logic when selecting the finishes. One tile collection, several colour variations. Future renovations won't have to start from scratch.
When the terrace finally makes sense
Originally, the terrace functioned mainly as a technical service area. Water tanks, a boiler fixed to the façade and inspection shafts. Exactly the kind of place guests tend to avoid. We turned it into another living space. New masonry planters were built along the walls, technical equipment disappeared and dark ceramic tiles were chosen because they cope much better with the fine volcanic dust brought by the regular calima winds. The narrow service passage was transformed into a small garden with black volcanic picón gravel, stepping stones and subtropical planting. A much nicer route from the bedroom than another corridor.
The first apartment sets the rules
Alegranza is not the finished story. It's the beginning. This is where we established the materials, detailing and design principles that are gradually shaping the renovation of the entire Weybeach Finca Marisa resort.The goal isn't to copy the same interior again and again. Every apartment responds to its own layout, orientation and views. Together, however, they form one coherent architectural language. The transformation is continuing outdoors as well. Hot tubs are giving way to comfortable seating, the outdoor furniture is gradually being replaced and the whole resort is opening itself towards Lanzarote's volcanic landscape.
Massage without Buddha
The massage room didn't need scented fountains or Buddha statues. Carefully positioned lighting, a timber ceiling, a few natural materials and dried palm leaves were enough. The result is a calm, understated space that feels just as natural as the rest of the resort.
Renovating on Lanzarote is not for everyone
Designing a renovation on Lanzarote is one thing. Delivering it is something entirely different. Material availability, contractor schedules and construction quality often work very differently from what we're used to in Central Europe. Instead of pursuing unnecessarily complicated details, we usually choose simpler and more robust solutions that make sense both during construction and after years of everyday use. A masonry kitchen or built-in masonry beds are not design statements. They are the result of many months spent renovating properties on the island. If you're interested in our approach to holiday home renovations abroad, or would like to understand the reality of building on Lanzarote, we've prepared a dedicated page together with a series of articles and podcasts where we openly describe what these projects really involve.
— Let's meet!
Do you have a similar project you'd like to discuss with us? Fill out this short questionnaire and we'll get back to you!
Radka - 30. 7. 2026