SummaryThis paper deals with the use, for seismic applications, of a Maxwell element in parallel with a low damping isolator. The study of the properties of the frequency response function shows that this isolator is capable to reduce the base displacement of isolated structures with no considerable amplification of the non‐isolated modes. This is, also, confirmed by the floor response spectra under earthquake excitations. Hence, the previously mentioned isolator does not present the drawbacks met when base displacement is reduced by increasing damping. Moreover, it seems that its performance is comparable with that of more elaborated and expensive techniques combining passive and semi‐active devices. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.