Description
Nestled in a century-old olive grove on the outskirts of a large village, this contemporary house and each of its independent suites have been designed to enjoy country life while benefiting from the utmost in modern comfort. Its architecture is remarkable for the absence of boundaries with the outdoors on the one hand, and between the living areas on the other. Indeed, the interior spaces are not delimited by doors, and the exterior partitions consist primarily of sliding glass doors, which provide access to at least one outdoor relaxation area from each room. The result is a surprising fluidity of movement and exceptional natural light, creating a feeling of harmony with nature. The various terraces on each side of the house and on both floors offer breathtaking views.
The main house, over 700 m², was built in 2012 and the owners have taken great care of it. In 2017, they added two high-quality bungalows (out of four approved by the town hall), each approximately 50 m², nestled among olive trees. The property is operated as a guesthouse and has been classified 'one key Michelin' for its style, equipment and integration in nature.
A small paved road leads to the entrance of the property, then we climb a gentle slope to the parking lot. The ground floor is dedicated to the common areas. From the main entrance, we access, through a hallway:
To the right, the reception area and a small office, then, further on, a social toilet and finally, the living room, which is divided into two spaces : one with a wood-burning insert and the other with a west-facing terrace, which leads to the relaxation area around the pool.
To the left, the dining room, which has an east-facing terrace. Further on, is a kitchen with a central island. From the kitchen, we access the stairs leading to the private apartment. This is located at the level of the upper part of the land at the rear of the house and consists of two bedrooms, a walk-in closet, a bathroom, a walled patio on one side and a terrace on the other. In the staircase, there is a locker room for the employees on the ground floor and the laundry room on the first floor.
In the centre, there is a large wind-sheltered patio of mediteranean influence with its orange trees and its rectangular shape fountain. From the patio, we access a large room, adjoining the living room, which has not been furbished and could become a gym or a play room, or even an extension of the living room ; and an exterior staircase that leads to the suites.
Above the staircase, there is a terrace overlooking the upper part of the land, and a balcony that wraps around the patio and provides access to five suites and, at the very end, to the private apartment. Each suite has its own entrance and private terrace, overlooking either the village and its castle, or the surrounding countryside, or both. The suites are spacious and include a sitting area/mini-bar, a small wardrobe, and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower. There are two pairs of suites, which can be connected (if necessary), and a master suite, which features a large office and a private patio, in addition to a terrace.
All around the house, there are numerous fruit and ornamental trees, as well as several gravel or concrete paths for connecting the various access points to : the private apartment and the suites on the first floor (from the rear of the house), the side service entrance, the parking lot, the vegetable garden, the relaxation area around the pool, and finally to each of the two bungalows. The relaxation area is located approximately 100m from the house and faces the sunset. It consists of a 14m x 5m infinity pool, a children's pool, a solar shower, a deck, and three small chill-out areas.
The two independent bungalows are located away from the house, below the pool. They are accessible to people with reduced mobility. Each has a bedroom opening onto a living room (with a sofa bed), a kitchenette, a bathroom with a walk-in shower that can be crossed to access a walled patio, and a terrace at the entrance.
There are also a vegetable/herb garden and a chicken coop providing fresh products to the guests, located opposite the parking lot and enclosed by a pretty openwork wall.
The amenities are of the highest quality and ensure the utmost comfort:
All rooms have a reversible air conditioning system integrated into the walls, the living room and the central patio are equipped with a sound system also integrated into the walls, the lighting is indirect and the entire outdoor space is illuminated (even in the olive trees). All the bay windows are made of thick double-glazed glass. The bungalows are equipped with an underfloor heating/cooling system.
There are two electric car chargers, two heat pumps powered by six photovoltaic solar panels, in addition to a gas boiler, 64 photovoltaic solar panels provide 60% of the property's energy, appart from being connected to the electricity main network (the cables are buried).
The property is connected to the main water network and an 80m deep borehole provides water for the swimming pool, treated by hydrolysis, and for the automatic lawn irrigation system. There are three electric septic tanks.
The combination of concrete and polished cement (Viroc) on the one hand, with marble and cork (omnipresent on both the exterior and interior walls) on the other, reinforces the buildings' integration into the natural environment, in addition to improving their thermal and acoustic insulation.
This property is exceptional for its transparency and lack of boundaries, while still offering privacy to each of its occupants. Furthermore, it contrasts with its surroundings while fully respecting nature.
It is located 3 km from a tourist village with all the necessary administrative services and numerous local shops, a supermarket, a primary school, etc... It is only an hour's drive from the beaches and Lisbon and 20 km from Evora, the capital of Alentejo, a World Heritage Site ecected European Capital of Culture in 2027.
Energy Rating: B
