Retreat Center
Permaculture Design for a Retreat Center in Cadaqués, Catalonia
This project unfolds on a hillside olive orchard overlooking the Mediterranean in Cadaqués, a landscape shaped by wind, stone and water scarcity. The property functions as a retreat center, welcoming people seeking rest, reflection and reconnection with land and place. The design responds to these intentions by working with the site’s constraints rather than against them.
The primary design objective is water stewardship. In a climate defined by irregular rainfall and long dry periods, the strategy focuses on slowing, spreading and sinking water across the landscape. A network of contour-based swales captures seasonal rains, reduces runoff and erosion, and allows water to infiltrate deeply into the soil profile. This passive hydrology supports long-term soil regeneration and resilience without reliance on intensive irrigation.
Wind is another dominant force in Cadaqués. Carefully positioned windbreaks, using a combination of existing vegetation and adapted perennial species that are designed to reduce desiccation, protect young plantings and create a more stable micro-climate. By moderating exposure, these living structures enhance plant establishment while improving comfort for people using the retreat spaces.
The existing diversified olive orchard becomes the backbone of a long-term transition toward a Mediterranean food forest. Rather than replacing what is already established, the design builds upon it : introducing understory shrubs, nitrogen-fixing species, aromatic plants and ground covers that increase biodiversity, soil organic matter and ecological function. Over time, this layered system will support food production, habitat creation and landscape beauty, while remaining low-input and climate-adapted.
This design offers a clear example of regenerative land management in dryland Mediterranean conditions, where water harvesting, micro-climate creation and soil building come together to support both human and ecological well-being.
