Art, Earth & Home
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
Building Cortijada Los Gázquez in Andalucía
High in the remote Sierra María–Los Vélez Natural Park, nestled among pine forests, rocky hills, and almond groves, lies Cortijada Los Gázquez—a unique off-grid ecological retreat and artist residency built on the ruins of five abandoned farmhouses. Today, it is a sanctuary of creativity, sustainability, and meaningful living. But when British artists Simon and Donna Beckmann first stumbled upon the site, there was little more than crumbling stone walls and empty silence. What they have created since is nothing short of transformative.
This is not just a story of home renovation. It’s a story of vision, of partnership, and of the powerful beauty that can emerge when art, nature, and purpose collide.
From Derelict to Dream
The journey began in 2006 when Simon and Donna, both creatives with a deep affinity for the environment, left behind the noise of city life and began searching for something slower, richer, and more connected. What they found was a forgotten cortijada—five traditional Spanish farmhouses grouped together in the arid highlands of Almería. The site, though rich in history and rustic charm, had been uninhabited for decades.
The buildings were in ruins. Roofs had caved in, windows were shattered, and the dry land surrounding them was cracked and neglected. Where many would have turned away, Simon and Donna saw potential. With a shared commitment to sustainability and artistry, they envisioned not just a home, but a living, breathing space for creative exchange and ecological regeneration.
Rather than modernising the ruins beyond recognition, they chose to work with the bones of the place—embracing its architectural heritage and enhancing it with considered design. Using traditional Andalucían techniques and materials such as lime plaster, stone, timber, and handmade tiles, they restored each building carefully, honouring the soul of the structures while introducing modern elements with a light touch.
Designing a Self-Sufficient Life
What sets Cortijada Los Gázquez apart isn’t just its stunning design—it’s how it functions. The property is entirely off-grid, powered by solar panels, a wind turbine, and biomass boilers. Rainwater is collected through ancient-style systems and stored in aljibes—traditional cisterns—before being filtered and used throughout the property. A natural reed-bed system treats greywater from showers and sinks, which is then used to irrigate the surrounding orchards and gardens.
Every element of daily life has been reimagined to fit within a circular, sustainable system. And yet, the experience of staying or living at Los Gázquez is far from rugged. Interiors are warm and welcoming, with reclaimed furniture, natural finishes, and curated details that speak to both function and beauty. Rooms breathe with light and air. Spaces are shaped for reflection and conversation.
In a world increasingly defined by consumption and disconnection, Simon and Donna’s approach is a quiet revolution: proving that living gently on the land can be both practical and profoundly fulfilling.
Joya: A Home for Creative Renewal
At the heart of the cortijada is Joya: arte + ecología, a pioneering artist-in-residence programme that invites creatives from around the world to spend time in deep creative exploration. Here, painters, photographers, writers, sculptors and musicians come not only to make art, but to experience a slower rhythm of life—one shaped by seasons, soil, and stillness.
The retreat has hosted hundreds of artists over the years. Many describe their time at Los Gázquez as life-changing. There are no urban distractions, no noise, no rush. Instead, there are quiet dawns, star-filled skies, long meals at communal tables, and the soft hum of wind through olive trees. The residency is structured around presence and place—art that grows out of context, not apart from it.
Simon and Donna also hold exhibitions, workshops, and open studio events, welcoming visitors into their world to share in the dialogue between art and ecology. Their home becomes, in every sense, a place of exchange—of ideas, of values, of stories.
A Life Built, Not Bought
For Simon and Donna, Los Gázquez is not a weekend escape or a hobby project—it is their full-time home, and a way of life shaped by intention. Together with their twin children, they have built not only walls and roofs, but also routines, friendships, and a way of seeing the world that prioritises connection over convenience.
Life here is not always easy. There are water shortages, harsh winters, long summers, and the challenges that come with remote living. But within these constraints, the Beckmanns have created a rhythm that feels both deeply human and refreshingly modern. A home that is honest. A life that is crafted with care.
As their ecological practices have deepened, so has their vision. What began as a restoration project has grown into a model for what sustainable living can look like when rooted in art, culture, and land stewardship. Their home is also a learning space—a living example for others who wish to build homes that align with values of environmental responsibility and creative freedom.
A Blueprint for Conscious Living
What makes Cortijada Los Gázquez truly inspiring is its layered meaning. It is a home. A studio. A school. A sanctuary. A place where beauty, sustainability and soul live side by side. Where the boundaries between living and creating blur in the most natural of ways.
For readers of Home & Living Magazine, this story offers more than interior inspiration. It is a call to imagine differently. Whether you’re planning a move to Spain, renovating a rural home, or simply dreaming of a lifestyle shift—Los Gázquez offers a quiet assurance that another way is possible. That home doesn’t have to mean more stuff, but can instead mean more meaning. More intention. More life.
As the world spins ever faster, perhaps the real luxury today is slowing down. Returning to craft, to nature, to honest materials and simple beauty. And in that stillness, rediscovering what “home” truly means.
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