Casa Lamarosa
Designed in a minimalist style, Casa Lamarosa is a historic rural residence in the Portuguese village of Lamarosa. It features three bedrooms, a plunge pool and an enchanting walled garden.
What is the story behind Monte das Casolas, what was your inspiration?
I worked in big companies on the finance side of things for some time. But I have a degree in agriculture and always had a dream of getting back to the countryside. I didn’t want to finish my life in the city.
So I started looking for land in Portugal. I wanted it to be close enough to Lisbon (within an hour) and not far from the ocean. On the third viewing, we got lucky and found the perfect place — a 22-hectare property with rolling hills, an old, ruined house and very nice views.
I knew that I didn’t want a holiday home but rather a business, with self-catering houses and a yoga shala (at the time I was taking a yoga teacher training course). I had a dream of making a retreat centre, so the business had to meet a lot of criteria. I applied for EU funds and worked with an architect and consultant on the project.
The property was beautiful and unspoiled. It had been abandoned for 50 years, so there was no plastic in the soil. I wanted the new construction to be as respectful to the environment as possible, so I opted for pre-fabricated structures that wouldn’t disturb the trees. In this part of Portugal, the acorn and cork trees are protected. We worked with a Portuguese company and created these white wooden cabins with low roofs in keeping with traditional Alentejo architecture.
In total, we created five cabins, all of which have three bedrooms and are around 100 square metres, so they are ideal for families. Each is immersed in nature and very peaceful. We orientated each in different directions, so you don’t see your neighbours, and there’s a sense of privacy and isolation, even though they’re not far away. The cabins are ideal for groups who want their own privacy while staying at the same property.
We also rebuilt the ruined house and a stone animal shelter, creating a memory of what once was. From one of the bigger animal shelters, we made a yoga shala, although it’s multi-use and can be used for yoga or parties. One of the key factors in tourism is you have to be flexible to clients’ needs! From the yoga shala, there is a beautiful view of the sunrise and the pool.
Adjacent to the yoga shala is Casa do Alpendre, another house that can be rented privately or used for retreats. It has a big living room where guests can dine and socialise — it works in parallel with the shala.
With Covid, construction delays and the speed of Portuguese planning approvals, it took some time to get everything completed. But since opening in January 2024, I have received wonderful feedback from everyone who visits.
How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of Monte das Casolas?
There’s always a “wow” factor when you enter the cabins as they have huge windows overlooking the surrounding nature. There is this element of surprise upon entry and each cabin has a slightly different view. Each of the cabins is very comfortable to ensure guests enjoy their stay.
In terms of interior design, I worked with an artist who does paintings and pottery and we finished with a very pure, almost Nordic design aesthetic. I wanted it to be simple, minimalist and comfortable, with spots of colour in the bedroom linen and plates. I think we have achieved that.
To you personally, what is so special about Monte das Casolas?
For me, the views are magical. I think the distribution of the houses offers privacy, but at the same time, you are not alone, which can feel scary for some people. It’s the perfect blend of isolation but with a friendly neighbour in a beautiful landscape.
