From a Run-Down House to a Dream Home in Mallorca: Dave Builds His Camp

In the previous chapters, we followed Dave from his search for a property in Mallorca to the discovery that the house he had purchased could not simply be renovated as originally planned. Major parts of the existing building had to be demolished, and after an extended period of planning and coordination, the reconstruction began to take shape.

Now, a different challenge begins. While the Kuhlmann & Partner team continues working on the house, Dave has another project to tackle: creating a place where he can live on the property for the next few months.

His plan is not simply to pitch a tent for a couple of nights. He wants to establish a small camp where he can sleep, work, spend time with his team and follow the progress of the construction at close range. He also wants a shared space where everyone can relax and enjoy the Mallorcan summer.

[WATCH THE FULL VIDEO – CHAPTER 4]

What initially sounds like a temporary arrangement quickly develops into a project of its own. Before the tents can be set up, the ground needs to be prepared. The structures then have to be assembled and furnished, while essential practical questions about electricity, water, internet access and communal areas also need to be addressed.

Making Space on a Property That Is Still Being Transformed

Before the tents can be installed, Dave and his team must first prepare the ground. The property is still covered with stones, including material left behind from the demolished house.

These stones need to be cleared to create a reasonably level and usable area for the camp. Only once the space has been prepared can the tents be positioned and the different living areas organised properly.

The work takes place in the intense Mallorcan summer heat. Dave points out that there is very little shade on the property, making outdoor work in the middle of the day particularly demanding. The team wants to get the tents assembled as quickly as possible so they can create some protection from the sun.

Even these initial steps show that a temporary accommodation setup requires planning. Before beds, furniture or an outdoor kitchen can be installed, there needs to be a suitable area where everything can be placed and used comfortably.

Four Tents for Everyday Life in Mallorca

Dave has planned four yurt-style tents, each approximately five metres in diameter. Three will be used as sleeping tents, while the fourth will serve as a shared living area.

The idea is to give everyone a place to sleep and relax, while the communal tent becomes a meeting point for the team. An outdoor kitchen is also planned, with facilities for preparing meals and cooking outside.

The camp is not intended to replace a permanent home, but it should offer considerably more than a basic camping setup for a weekend. Dave expects to spend weeks or even months on the property, so the tents need to be arranged in a way that makes everyday life as comfortable as possible.

The thinking is straightforward: when the construction site becomes the centre of a project for an extended period, it helps to have a place where everyone can unwind between working days.

An Alternative to Expensive Accommodation During Peak Season

Why has Dave chosen to establish a camp instead of renting a house or apartment while construction is underway? For him, the answer comes down to practicality and cost.

Mallorca becomes particularly busy during the summer months, when holiday apartments, rental houses and hotels can be expensive. In the video, Dave estimates that accommodating himself, his cameraman, other team members, friends and helpers between June and September could cost around €10,000 per month.

That is an expense he would rather avoid. Instead, he decides to invest time and resources in an alternative arrangement on his own property.

This allows him to stay close to the construction site, follow the progress of the work and document the development of the house without constantly travelling between different places to stay. It also gives the people involved in the project a shared base when they visit or spend time on the property.

The camp is therefore more than an unusual idea. It is a practical response to the particular circumstances of this stage of the project.

More Than Just Somewhere to Sleep

The plan involves much more than three sleeping tents. The fourth tent is intended to become a communal area where everyone can gather.

Dave also wants to create an outdoor kitchen and a place where the team can relax together and watch the upcoming football World Cup.

Step by step, the property is becoming a temporary base for everyday life. It should be possible to have breakfast, work, unwind and spend time together even though the main house is still under construction.

In this way, the camp becomes another part of the story behind the house. While the building is being reconstructed, Dave is creating the conditions that will allow him to experience and document the process from the property itself.

A Temporary Power Supply Using Solar Energy

One of the main challenges is that the property does not yet have a conventional electricity connection. Dave explains in the video that an estimate for connecting the property to the grid was around €200,000. He therefore decides to use a temporary solution based on solar panels and battery storage.

The initial setup provides power for some of the equipment needed around the camp. During the episode, the system is expanded with an additional battery that Dave has brought from home. The solar panels help recharge the batteries and supply electricity for the temporary accommodation.

This arrangement is designed around the needs of the current phase. Dave also mentions that he intends to install a much larger system for the permanent house in the future.

It is important to distinguish between the requirements of the temporary camp and those of the completed home. Temporary solutions can make everyday life during construction easier, but the permanent systems for a house need to be planned around the building’s actual requirements.

Internet Access in the Middle of Nowhere

A reliable internet connection is another priority for Dave. He wants to continue producing videos, working and documenting the progress of the project, so he needs a connection that works even at this remote location.

In the video, he demonstrates how he gets satellite internet up and running and is impressed by the connection speed. He also installs a surveillance system to help keep an eye on the camp and its equipment.

These additions make the temporary setup increasingly practical. Although the property is still a long way from having a finished home, some of the essentials for an extended stay are already in place.

Water, the Outdoor Shower and Other Facilities

While electricity and internet access are available relatively quickly, other basic facilities remain a challenge. Water, sanitation and the outdoor shower are not fully sorted out during much of the episode.

The team experiments with temporary solutions to make the camp usable, but Dave makes it clear that there is still work to do. The outdoor kitchen and shower area also need further improvements before everything works as intended.

The goal is not simply to have the tents standing. Dave wants to create a place where he and his team can live for weeks or months without constantly relying on facilities elsewhere.

The Setup and the First Night

Once the ground has been prepared, the team starts assembling the four tents. Despite the high temperatures and the amount of work still ahead, the structures gradually take shape.

With the tents standing, attention turns to furnishing the interiors. The three sleeping tents are fitted with beds, mattresses, rugs, lamps, clothes rails and storage solutions.

Dave wants the interiors to feel more like simple, comfortably furnished rooms than conventional camping tents. Even a few pieces of furniture and carefully chosen textiles make a noticeable difference to the atmosphere.

By the end of the first day, an important milestone has been reached: the tents are up, and the team can spend its first night on the property. Not everything is ready yet, but the camp is already serving its main purpose.

Making a Temporary Space Comfortable

On the second day, work continues inside the tents and around the communal areas. Furniture and storage are arranged to make the best possible use of the available space.

The intention is not to create a second permanent home. Instead, the temporary accommodation needs to be practical and pleasant. A proper bed, suitable lighting, room for clothing and an organised interior can make a significant difference when staying somewhere for an extended period.

The outdoor kitchen also begins to take shape. A structure is assembled, and modular wooden flooring is laid to create a more comfortable surface for the kitchen area. The plan is to have a place where people can prepare meals and eat together.

By the end of the episode, however, the work is not yet complete. The outdoor kitchen still needs finishing, and the shower and other basic facilities require improvements. The camp has come a long way, but there is still more to do before everything is fully functional.

Construction Work in the Mallorcan Summer Heat

Although Dave’s camp is the main focus of this chapter, rebuilding the house remains the central goal of the entire project.

While Dave and his team prepare and furnish the tents, the construction professionals continue working on the building. High summer temperatures add another challenge, particularly for tasks that have to be carried out outdoors.

Dave observes how the workers adapt to the conditions and acknowledges how demanding the heat can be. As he points out in the video, working outside in Mallorca during August can be particularly difficult when temperatures are high.

Despite these challenges, Dave hopes to keep the project on schedule. In the video, he states his personal goal of having the house finished and being able to move in before the end of the year. Whether that target can be achieved will depend on the actual progress of the construction and the work that remains.

Why Coordinating Every Stage Matters

Rebuilding a house involves many individual tasks that need to be coordinated. Careful planning and communication between the professionals involved are important factors in keeping a project organised and moving forward.

In Dave’s case, having the camp on the property allows him to remain close to the site and follow developments first-hand. At the same time, the Kuhlmann & Partner team continues with the reconstruction work.

Both sides have their own requirements. The building work needs to progress according to the plan, while the camp must provide the basic conditions that allow Dave and his team to stay on the property.

This parallel development highlights an important reality of larger construction projects: the finished building is only one part of the picture. Organising the circumstances surrounding the construction phase can also make a difference to how effectively the overall project is managed and documented.

After approximately 48 hours, the property has changed considerably. All four tents are standing, the sleeping areas are furnished, electricity and internet are working, and the foundations of an outdoor kitchen are in place.

Nevertheless, some important tasks remain unfinished. The kitchen needs further work, the outdoor shower and other essential facilities need improvements, and the communal area is not yet completely set up.

Dave has not created a permanent home, but he has established a practical temporary base that allows him to spend more time on the property and document the reconstruction from close by.

Meanwhile, Kuhlmann & Partner continues working on the house. The project is progressing on two fronts: creating a temporary place for Dave and his team to live, while the main building is gradually being reconstructed.

In the next chapters, we will be able to follow further developments on the construction site and see how the project progresses. The camp is already taking shape, but there is still plenty of work ahead before the building becomes Dave’s dream home.

Planning to Build or Renovate a Property in Mallorca?

Every construction project has its own requirements, from the characteristics of the property to the planning process and coordination of the work involved.

At Kuhlmann & Partner, we support clients with construction and renovation projects in Mallorca, combining a personal approach with a broad understanding of the process. If you are considering building a house, renovating a property or transforming an existing building on the island, we would be happy to hear about your plans and discuss how we can help.