Located in the Darksky Alqueva reserve, the first starlight tourism destination in the world to be certified by UNESCO, the Montimerso Skyscape Country House, in the Herdade Geralda, came about from the desire to develop a project that would take advantage of the high tourist potential of the Portuguese interior. Underpinning it all was the respect for the principles of energy sustainability. The inspiration for its creation came from the beautiful view over the Alqueva dam and the setting with the village of Monsaraz. This is how this place was created, the simple decoration of which, with natural materials, recalls the traditions of the Alentejo region. A noble mission that fell to the office of Ana Rita Soares. The team designed the interior design according to the client’s needs, drawing a large part of the furniture that was fit in with some of the owners’ personal materials, namely furniture and old family pieces, and others acquired on their trips around the world.
But the studio also focused on art and in national craftsmen, such as the Algarve artist António Chaveca Luz, who makes unique products with typically Portuguese materials. In this way, it was possible to bring the local spirit into each environment by using textures from nature, merging them into a palette of neutral, soft and delicate colours, referring to minimalism and the contemporary, creating rustic, comfortable and charming environments.
But the studio also focused on art and in national craftsmen, such as the Algarve artist António Chaveca Luz, who makes unique products with typically Portuguese materials. In this way, it was possible to bring the local spirit into each environment by using textures from nature, merging them into a palette of neutral, soft and delicate colours, referring to minimalism and the contemporary, creating rustic, comfortable and charming environments.
