A Portuguese Farm with Guest Cottages—and Nearby Beaches—in a Nature Reserve
Guests at Quinta do Pinheiro stay in white-washed cottages within touching distance of a swimming pool created from the farm’s water tank. Located on the grounds of a still-working 19th-century agricultural estate, the retreat is set within Parque Natural da Ria Formosa, a protected reserve of beaches, dunes, and salt flats in Portugal’s Algarve.
The property belongs to a Dutch entrepreneurial couple who have become farmers in Portugal—and happen to have great taste. In addition to maintaining the avocado orchard and reestablishing the quinta’s vineyard, they hired esteemed Lisbon firm Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos to turn the existing farmhouse and surrounding structures into two- and three-bedroom guest cottages. The design, starting with the red-painted doors and window frames, draws from the traditions and materials of the region. Join us for a tour of two of the houses.
Photography courtesy of Quinta do Pinheiro (@quinta.pinheiro).
Above: The central farmhouse and surrounding structures have been transformed into five rental cottages, all with stucco walls and their original terracotta-tiled roofs. “In each house, we focused on the elements that reflect the spirit of the original farm,” says lead architect Marta Valsassina, who works in her father’s firm.
Above: The pool stands in the footprint of what was formerly the farm’s water storage basin.Casa Celeiro
Above: A converted barn, Casa Celeiro has a 42-square-meter (425-square-foot) living room/kitchen under an exposed rafter ceiling inset with straw, a style Marta says is typical of the area. Santa Catarina floor tiles and red interior shutters, two more signatures of the region, appear in every cottage. 
Above: A newly introduced living room niche showcases relics found on the farm: one of the previous owners was a collector who ran his own small museum on the premises.
Above: Each cottage has a kitchen designed by the architects and built by a local carpentry workshop. The dining tables are also a Frederico Valsassina Arquitectos design made in the north of Portugal and the R & B Dining Chairs are Branca’s update of traditional Portuguese spindle seats.
Above: An arched stairway in one of the three bedrooms leads to a small roof terrace with views of the farm fields. The bedside sconce is Original BTC’s Original 1227 Wall Light.Casa das Flores
Above: Flower House is set on an alley paved in old cobblestones and has its own covered terrace.
Above: Off the entry, an old-style armchair designed by the architects stands by a working fireplace.
Above: We love the two-toned kitchen cabinets. The Signal sconces are by Remodelista favorite Jieldé.
Above: An antique chair serves as a bedside table. The cotton waffle Ericeira blankets are from Futah.
Above: The bathrooms are clean-lined and have inset storage.
Above: Outdoor dining alongside vintage black metal olive oil containers.
Above: The whole property can be rented for events, such as weddings and retreats. It’s open year-round; for more info and reservations, go to Quinta do Pinheiro.More cottage enclaves that we love:
Categories
Recent Posts
GET MORE INFORMATION