LUCIANO GIUBBILEI

WE LOVE WOMEN 


PHOTOS BY CLAIRE O'KEEFE

A FIELD IN MALLORCA


Luciano Giubbilei’s approach to garden design is rooted in a profound respect for nature, a commitment to collaboration, and an openness to change. His gardens transcend mere spaces, becoming sanctuaries—places of refuge where one can experience beauty and reconnect with
inner peace. Here, the landscape gardener shares with us the story of a seed he planted in the birthplace of Cortana: The Field near the quiet village of Son Servera in Mallorca.                      
“Our ability to perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, with the pretty. It expands through
successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet uncaptured by language.”
                                     

                                                                                                                                   Aldo Leopold

“The drystone walling provides a frame for the trees. It was always about giving space to the trees and framing them, and also giving an idea of something that is more cultivated, very close to the plants, and then what lies beyond that, is the landscape.”

Luciano embarked on this journey in 2020, remaining in Mallorca throughout the pandemic, allowing him to spend a continuous amount of time creating the field garden, developing an intimacy and ongoing conversation with its flora. It has since evolved into a living canvas, a place of constant experimentation and inspiration. Both a meeting place and a spontaneous garden, The Field thrives on natural processes, shaped by plants that reemerge without human interference:


“You can make gardens in so many ways…we wanted to work with what was already there,” Giubbilei explains, “leaving the rocky soil undisturbed and allowing the memory of the land to reoccur. Rather than creating artificial conditions, the garden embraces the plants that are naturally made to survive here.” This philosophy of letting the land guide the process resonates with Rosa Esteva’s approach to fashion, where designs honour the heritage and materials of Mallorca. “but it is more than that, shereally believes in making things in that particular way brings something to the people that wear it, and so for us creating gardens nowadays this sort of attitude and approach is really important, it´s so personal- your own approach is what makes a difference.”

The garden reflects a rewilding mindset, encouraging the natural growth of local plants: “We noticed a plant that was flowering in one part of the garden almost all year round, it didn´t really mind the dry season or the winter it was just happy. So we started to collect seeds from this plant and spread it to different parts of the field and it´s very beautiful now to see it in different areas. We try to work very mindfully, so we use no irrigation system or very little there, so having flowering things in such a hot and arid conditions is very real gift. A lot of peole talk about sustainability, it´s a big word that everybody uses but Ithink there is so much work to do to be able to use that word.” 


Blending landscapes and enclosed spaces, the field creates a seamless connection between the garden and the surrounding land: “the field has this view, into the landscape and the way we define a landscape is everything your eyes can see, and a garden is anything that you can infinitely enclose and we have both - we have a landscape and a garden and we try to use this monochromatic quality to blend with one another.”

“I think the island had a huge effect on the way I work today; the close proximity of the sea from everywhere you are. 

You become addicted to waking up in the morning and seeing the sunrise, all the different places you can see the sunrise from, and the sunset, from the beach, or there´s a field of oak trees where I love to go and see the sunset; the colours, the pink over the sea, these sort of pink moments are unreal.”


Giubbilei draws parallels between the layers in his gardens and Rosa’s fabrics. Both rely on composition, depth, and light. “Layering creates atmosphere and moments of surprise,” he says. “It allows the garden to reveal itself slowly, like a series of pictures that unfold as you move through the space.” These fleeting moments—like the magic of a sunrise or the way mist filters sunlight, or leaves frame your view— create moments of real beauty and define the experience of a garden.


“The drystone walling provides a frame for the trees. It was always about giving space to the trees and framing them, and also giving an idea of something that is more cultivated, very close to the plants, and then what lies beyond that, is the landscape.”

The journey to The Field is as much a part of the experience as the destination. “You have to leave your home and drive there, preparing your mind for what you’ll encounter. It’s not just stepping out of your back door into a garden—it’s entering a space where you can be fully present,” he reflects.The absence of buildings, apart from a simple pergola for shade, enhances the sense of immersion in nature.

Giubbilei draws parallels between the layers in his gardens and Rosa’s fabrics. Both rely on composition, depth, and light. “Layering creates atmosphere and moments of surprise,” he says. “It allows the garden to reveal itself slowly, like a series of pictures that unfold as you move through the space.” These fleeting moments—like the magic of a sunrise or the way mist filters sunlight, or leaves frame your view— create moments of real beauty and define the experience of a garden.

For Giubbilei, The Field is more than a garden; it is a refuge. “Gardening slows us down in a fast-paced world. I think everybody should have a garden, it doesn’t have to be a big garden, it can be a very small thing. It’s not about demand but nurturing. Its a beautiful relationship.”
WORDS BY VICTORIA MACARTE