Cottage/Cabin CasasNaAreia, Portugal

South of Lisbon, Portugal the cottages at CasasNaAreia designed by Aires Mateus have been sitting in-tacked on the Sado River for many years. The way things were is the way they are, not much has been changed other than a few amenities for guests including luxurious bathrooms and heated sand floors for colder temperatures. Local materials and old techniques were used to tackle any renovations necessary.

Thatched roofs and wood plank walkways welcome guests with a delightful seaside charm. Windows framed in flowing drapes blow peaceful and pure against passing breezes. Furnishings echo this same mood simply white, a perfect compliment to the ivory sands underfoot. It’s all about getting away, allowing the natural surroundings and empty sky to clear your mind, inducing moments if clarity, contentment, relaxation at best.

Beautiful birds flock to the area thanks to the surrounding sanctuary, inviting unique and rare varieties to grace the property. It’s a landscape view of rice patties and sand dunes, years ago worked by farmers and fishermen.  Buildings were made of straw, floors were bare earth. The key to this haven is keeping things as true to the original context as possible, even to the open fire inside the buildings without the use of a chimney. Photography Nelson Garrido