With its pristine beaches, rolling plains and cork oak forests, Portugal’s Alentejo region is rated as one of the most unsullied corners of Europe.
The perfect spot, then, for Evelyne Tissier and Claude Martin to concoct their antidote to Parisian bustle: a vernacular ‘beach house’ cast in cool concrete by Portuguese architect Manuel Aires Mateus.
‘I liked the idea of having a little hamlet on a hill,’ fashionista Tissier tells us of her rural escape, situated an hour south of Lisbon close to the hills of Serra de Grândola.
The retreat combines a main residence – featuring communal dining and living space and an en-suite bedroom – with three independent casitas, each offering an en-suite bedroom and sea-facing terrace. Outside lies a heated pool and lemon, orange and olive groves.
Tissier’s creative coterie shaped the vision: fashion designer Bill Gaytten picked the spot and photographer Matthieu Salvaing suggested imprinting the concrete with wood to create an organic relief.
Vast glass doors showcase the natural setting, while spartan interiors sport vintage pieces such as José Espinho’s 1950s sideboard, sourced from Setúbal-based dealer Antonio ‘Le Brocanteur’
When the tranquillity gets too much head 20 minutes west to Praia do Carvalhal for decent surf and grilled fish at O Dinis.
ADDRESS
Serra di Melides, Alentejo
-
The Bombardier Global 8000 flies faster and higher to make the most of your time in the airA wellness machine with wings: Bombardier’s new Global 8000 isn’t quite a spa in the sky, but the Canadian manufacturer reckons its flagship business jet will give your health a boost
-
A former fisherman’s cottage in Brittany is transformed by a new timber extensionParis-based architects A-platz have woven new elements into the stone fabric of this traditional Breton cottage
-
New York's members-only boom shows no sign of stopping – and it's about to get even more nicheFrom bathing clubs to listening bars, gatekeeping is back in a big way. Here's what's driving the wave of exclusivity
-
The Wallpaper* team’s travel highlights of the yearA year of travel distilled. Discover the destinations that inspired our editors on and off assignment
-
Retreat to an earthy resort in a sylvan slice of the AlgarveThe beautifully wild Portuguese landscape envelops the Vale Palheiro Earth Resort, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in rural authenticity
-
Vincent Van Duysen reimagines Lisbon dining at Jncquoi FishA minimalist yet richly textural world sets the tone at a buzzy new Lisbon restaurant, where Portuguese craft, Atlantic produce and fine-tuned gastronomy meet
-
This Portuguese winery looks like it grew from the landscape itselfArchitect Sérgio Rebelo distils the essence of Portugal’s Douro Valley into a new timber-framed winery for Quinta de Adorigo
-
The Viceroy Hotel Group wants you to get on your bikeAcross properties in Santa Monica, Chicago, Washington DC and the Algarve, Viceroy guests can experience curated cycling routes and community events
-
Two new villas extend Christian Louboutin’s exuberant Portuguese hotelA pink, kasbah-inspired residence and a whitewashed boathouse join the French shoe designer’s Vermelho Hotel in Melides, Alentejo
-
Do luxury hotels need a farmer-in-residence?From Ibiza to Indonesia, hospitality brands are cultivating a new travel experience, where wellness begins in the soil and ends at the table
-
Wallpaper* checks into Quinta do Pinheiro, an easy-breezy farmhouse in the AlgarveIn this private five-casa quinta by the Ria Formosa, it’s all about blending rustic charm with modern comfort
