Villa Extramuros, A Visionary Modernist Guesthouse In Southern Portugal

Portuguese holiday goers and tourists alike descend on the Alentejo coast in the summertime: beyond the picturesque beaches, the charms of the land lie in its abundance of national parks, its cork oak forests, and areas covered with orange trees. Hidden in this region is the independent guesthouse, its uncultivated land is covered with olive trees and cork oaks, providing an abundance of nature for guests to immerse themselves in on balmy evenings and warm mornings. The five guest suites are located on the first floor of the complex; each has their own private terrace, two of which overlook the Arraiolos Castle nearby. The communal living areas of the villa open out onto a central courtyard that hosts a small plunge pool and is dotted with more orange trees, while a communal terrace can be accessed through the dining room, facing the surrounding fields and olive trees.

“The contemporary architecture of ‘Villa Extramuros’ reflects the charms of villages in Southern and Mediterranean Europe,” explains the owners of the villa. As is typical of Modernist architecture, the primary materials used include raw concrete, glass, and marble. Materials were sourced locally from the region, while the interior design—driven by the Parisians owners—encompasses a range of imported design pieces from the 1920s to the 1950s; showcasing works from artists such as the French architect-designer Jean Prouvé, and German industrial designer Konstantin Grcic.