Meditative escapes

Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Alentejo, Portugal

Agape Destinations

EN

The story behind the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova

Country House is a story of family, place and dreams

fulfilled. Set in a privileged location in the rural expanse

of Alentejo, Portugal, the winery, which encompasses 450

hectares of fertile land, and hotel were founded by

the Soares family in 1998. When they first arrived on

the land, there were only the ruins of ancient buildings

to speak of. It took the family several years and an endless

passion to restore the structures, which would become

guesthouses, and cultivate the newly planted vineyards

that eventually would be turned into Syrah, Cabernet

Sauvignon and Verdelho wines.

The five villas, whose simple architecture of

whitewashed walls and terracotta-tiled roofs echo traditional

Portuguese farmhouses, are arranged in a constellation

across the landscape and afford sweeping views of the

red earth rolling hills and curling grapevines. Each villa was

designed to have its own unique personality. The aptly

named Arts and Crafts House, for instance, is an eclectic

interpretation of local design traditions, teeming with vintage

furniture and objects crafted by nearby artisans. The design

of the house is “very creative”, says Rita Soares, the family

matriarch, “it takes us on a journey through time”.

The design, which was done in-house by Soares

herself, highlights elements that pay homage to traditional

ways of life, though in a thoroughly contemporary way.

The rounded shape of the bathtub in the primary suite,

Ottocento, for example, recalls the old iron tubs once found

in local dwellings. “It is a style that is perfect for this very

modern villa”, says Soares, “inspired by the past stories

of this ancient property, where local people would travel

to the river to retrieve water to wash their clothes, to bake

the bread, to plant the vegetables or to produce different

artisanal objects with clay”.

In the nearby Casa das Pedras, however, the interior

concept is decidedly more restrained. The building is

formed of thick walls of straw-colored concrete complete

with wide windows overlooking the valley. Here, in the main

bedroom, the Neb tub sits in front of the window like a

sculpture on a plinth, allowing guests to soak in the beauty

of the scenery as they luxuriate. It is thoughtful details such

as these that set the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country

House apart. “When we bought the abandoned property in

1998 and started to raise our family, this journey led us to

the mission of preserving and the feeling of a responsibility

to share our way of living and thinking”, Soares says of their

mission. “This journey we want to share with our guests

through the houses, each one telling stories from the past,

the present and designing a new future”.

Neb bathtub

124

125

Vasca Neb