Wonderful Wild Villa

It all began with a pencil sketch of the life he wished to create for himself and his family—a simple, wonderful life close to nature.

This exhibition brings you up close to Jørn Utzon’s famous Mediterranean house, Can Lis. From the first, remarkable sketches to the completed sandstone villa, the story unfolds through the stunning photographs of artists Torben Eskerod and Erik Steffensen.

For a quarter of a century, Can Lis and its dramatic cliffside location formed the backdrop to Jørn Utzon’s life. Today, the house is recognized as one of the most important architectural works of the 20th century—an early example of architecture embodying the simplicity and tranquility that many long for today.

An Extraordinary House

On paper, Jørn Utzon sketched vaulted roofs and elongated terraces—along with himself and his wife, Lis, basking naked under the southern sun.

The sketch captures the essence of Can Lis, completed in 1973 and lovingly named after his wife. Both grounded and elevated at once.

The house seems to emerge naturally from Mallorca’s rugged cliffs. The sandstone blocks that form its foundation and walls were cut directly from the rocky terrain, binding the building inseparably to its surroundings. Open spaces and hidden window frames blur the boundary between inside and out, while light and the sea take center stage in this living work of art.

The exhibition presents original drawings and models from Jørn Utzon’s private archive, alongside photographs by artists Torben Eskerod and Erik Steffensen. Their images capture the unique atmosphere of Can Lis—ranging from the mystical and otherworldly to the intimate and profoundly sensory.

Erik Steffensen (b. 1961) is a Danish artist and a prominent figure in contemporary photography. Steffensen is drawn to the mystical and dreamlike, and his works often contain surreal and poetic elements that engage viewers both intellectually and emotionally.

Torben Eskerod (b. 1960) is a Danish photographer renowned for his portraits and landscape photography. He combines technical precision with a deep sensitivity to human psychology and the aesthetics of nature. His work is often characterized by a minimalist approach and a keen sense of light and shadow.