Just a few meters away from Tavira’s Old Town, set in an old building that served as a convent for Cistercian nuns from as early as 1509, the Convento das Bernardas is a modern renovation undertaken by one of Portugal’s most acclaimed architects. The 2011 Pritzker laureate, Eduardo Souto de Moura.
Souto de Moura has excelled in such way with this project that it eventually earned him the 3rd European Award for Architectural Heritage Intervention in June 2017.
The building has a privileged location facing the centuries-old Tavira saltpans, part of the Ria Formosa marsh ecosystem. Despite the bold intervention, the building has retained much of its original character. The main structural elements, the façade original lines, the Manueline-Gothic portal are all aspects that help preserve this memory. In Souto de Moura’s own words this was in a way one of his most “painful” jobs. Well known for his reluctance with opening windows and doors in his projects, in this particular case he saw himself forced to open over 120 windows. “Probably more than I ever did in my 30 years long career”.
Our 2 villas, are part of what is called the Salinas wing of this well-appointed multi residential complex. High quality building materials, contemporary comfort and carefully-studied design are combined with modern-day facilities and services that include two saltwater swimming pools, video surveillance, a parking space for each unit and beautifully kept outdoor spaces and communal areas.
Each of our 2-bedroom units include an amazing pergola where you can just relax and enjoy a quiet reading or even an outdoor meal. For the interiors of this project we have teamed up with the De La Espada furniture brand and their creative team. The goal was to create a simple atmosphere that would match seamlessly with the architectural design. Crafted from the finest woods and beautifully dressed in Kvadrat textiles the array of furnishings is a mix of pieces from the ranges designed by Neri&Hu, Matthew Hilton, Autoban and StudioIlse.
All this a stone’s throw from secluded pristine beaches, delicious local gastronomy and a rich heritage.
We are proud to invite you to discover our new venture. Flattered to be in Algarve.
Flattered. Stay as long as you wish.
