Ecorkhotel — Évora, Portugal
Set within 12 acres of rolling oak forest and ancient olive groves, this sustainable eco resort was designed by architect José Carlos Cruz to mimic a traditional whitewashed Alentejo village in a cool, contemporary style. The hotel and spa, some 7km from the UNESCO World Heritage city of Evora, were designed with maximum energy efficiency in mind, using geothermal and solar energy to heat and cool 56 villa suites. The main building blends into the local landscape and is wrapped in recycled cork cladding, a 100 percent natural product harvested by hand from the native cork oak. Brightly coloured rugs decorating the lobby are hand woven from Portuguese Merino wool at a local factory rescued by Dutch entrepreneur Mizette Nielsen. The open-plan restaurant Cardo, decorated in Madeira wicker furniture and Hans Wegner wishbone chairs, is run by 27-year-old rising star Gonçalo Queiroz.
ADDRESS
Sé E São Pedro
Évora
Portugal
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Rupert Eden has worked for Wallpaper* magazine since 2010 covering everything Iberian from architecture and design to wellness and travel. He is happiest championing sustainable projects featuring up-and-coming artisans or chefs.
-
Volvo’s quest for safety has resulted in this new, ultra-legible in-car typeface, Volvo CentumDalton Maag designs a new sans serif typeface for the Swedish carmaker, Volvo Centum, building on the brand’s strong safety ethos
-
We asked six creative leaders to tell us their design predictions for the year aheadWhat will be the trends shaping the design world in 2026? Six creative leaders share their creative predictions for next year, alongside some wise advice: be present, connect, embrace AI
-
10 watch and jewellery moments that dazzled us in 2025From unexpected watch collaborations to eclectic materials and offbeat designs, here are the watch and jewellery moments we enjoyed this year
-
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