Casa da Açoteia
VALE DO LOBO, ALGARVE
Designed in collaboration with local architects Nuno Nascimento, Casa da Açoteia takes the idea of the traditional holiday house & twists it to reveal a more holistic balance by the beach. Once one oldest houses in the resort built originally in the 1970’s, the owners, a lovely Portuguese family from Cascais, employed Nascimento to help them carefully renovate & refresh the semidetached, three-bedroom townhouse.
A level of thoughtful and cleverly laid out social areas moves through the ground floor on surprising levels; a small, well-equipped kitchen, calming dining area and living space lead onto an outdoor, groundfloor terrace with space for breakfast in the shade of the pine trees. A pretty bedroom sits here too, stripped back and simply soothing for a restful night’s sleep. A second floor, up a flight of angular stairs, reveals a sun-soaked reading terrace and two additional suites, each designed to make use of the small space and to feel spacious even in seemingly small dwellings. The master suite retains an original, retro arched window and traditionally arched ceilings. Small, minimal details here make all the difference as the beauty of simplicity is refined in a way that cultivates restfulness and calm.
Climbing a gleaming staircase under a canopy of blue, the "Açoteia" (or ‘little roof terrace’) is where cooling off in the dippy pool after a long day on the beach, just a moment’s walk away, is as inviting as sundowners overlooking the Algarvian chimney pots that dot neighbours rooftops & the ocean beyond. This is the perfect little house for small families seeking a small and stylish base with sand and sea on their doorstep.
Room Service
Location: Vale do Lobo, Algarve.
Price: On Request, but reasonable.
Highlights: The Açoteia of the house is truly a highlight as it adds a whole other dimension to townhouse living. The textures of the walls & furnishings also add to the design-led living elements & the minimal interiors immediately calm the mind ready for rest & relaxation.
Our favourite room: The master suite is the most spacious but all are ensuite & private.
Services: Turn-down & additional services on request. Vale-do-lobo also offer babysitting & kids club facilities.
Designed by Nuno Nascimento.
Photography by Francisco Nogueira.
The Neighbourhood: Vale do Lobo is one of the Algarve’s oldest resorts. Built in the 1970’s it has traditionally been associated with well-to-do families seeking their moment in the sun. A walk away is a wide stretch beach meaning you won’t have to walk far to find a quiet spot. There are a few restaurants around serving fresh grilled fish & seafood, but expect to pay resort prices.
Things to know: This house is perfect for couples & small families seeking to escape to the sunshine that is so resonant with the Algarve. There is not much authentic culture around other than that of the ‘beach-life’ nearby but for those with small children seeking to frolic in the sand all day, it doesn’t get much more convenient than this.
The Map
Casa da Açoteia is located in Vale do Lobo. Around a twenty-minute drive from the nearest airport, fly to Faro & rent a little car to take a road trip while finding some freedom during your stay.
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