COMPORTA HOME

AMONG THE TRIPTYCH OF THE OCEAN, DUNES AND RICE FIELDS IN COMPORTA, PORTUGAL IS A HOME OF LUXURY AND SIMPLICITY, INSPIRED BY THE HUTS OF LOCAL FISHERMEN AND FARMERS.

STRAW CASTLE

lmost everywhere at the seaside, regulars have their unmissable spots – places to which they return year after year, never tiring or ceasing to be amazed. With its golden sand with golden reflections, trails of foam and broken seashells, and iodised perfumes intermingled with the woody scent of pines, this corner of Praia do Pego is a refuge for those lucky enough to be able to acquire land here.

The owners of this particular property – French by way of a lengthy sojourn in Mexico – fell in love with this corner of Portugal, which reminded them of the Mexican coast and its palm-thatched palapa huts. And there’s a certain purity in the way their home respects the spirit of the place – of its origins, essence and authenticity.

Lisbon interior architect Rita Andringa of Andringa Studio worked on this project with architect Nuno Lopes, the creator of many of the beautiful houses of Comporta. “We share a great love for the vernacular architecture of the Alentejo coastline,” she says. “The proportions here certainly have little to do with traditional fishermen’s huts – but as to the rest, we are connected by the materials and ancient techniques of local architecture.”

Under the thatched roofs are wooden and reed walls. The ceilings are also a combination of wood, cane and thatch. And there is no distinction between the architecture and the decor – they are two parts of a whole. Function and beauty go hand in hand, and the furniture is often integrated into the masonry – as is the case with the walls that extend into sofas, and the headboards that become bookcases.

The surface area – 300m2 – allows for different scenarios and views to emerge from different parts of the home. A larger hut, perched near the top of the site, contains the kitchen, dining room and living space, as well as the master bedroom. From here, forest views unfold through large windows and sliders in every direction. On the lower level, the guest-bedroom and children’s area wrap around an orchard and an aromatic herb garden, the brainchild of the founder of luxury garden brand Le Prince Jardinier, Louis-Albert de Broglie. The swimming pool is more secluded, with the surrounding dunes ensuring privacy.

Connected to each other by a set of wooden terraces, the smaller “houses” are autonomous spaces that still allow for soft mobility. Highlighting the contribution of the owners in the success of the project, Rita says they were very hands-on. “I’d even say that we carried out collaborative work with the landscaper and the craftsmen,” she adds. “It’s essential to harness the power of teamwork in a project of this kind – because the human aspect is crucial in anything that’s ‘made in Comporta’.” andringastudio.com

With its feet in the sand, and sheltered by a pine forest, the main house benefits from a huge terrace, which overlooks a unique panorama of dunes and ocean. Clad in rice straw and topped by a thatched roof, it retains the style of traditional houses of the Portuguese coast.

THIS PAGE Spacious and bright, the living room combines soft colours with natural materials. Plaster and cane on the walls create a graphic effect that skilfully responds to the framework dressed in straw and cane. On the wide custom-made benches, cushions and mattresses are made up in Larsen and Aldeco fabrics. The rattan marquetry coffee tables and 1960s armchairs were sourced at Barracuda in Carvalhal, while the 1970s palm-tree lamp is a Paris market find. OPPOSITE Interior architect Rita Andringa (top left) created waxed-concrete terraces around the property to accommodate large tables and comfortable benches made for lounging and entertaining in the shade of the thatched roof. The pool is finished in ceramic tiles and bordered by a “beach” made of pine slats. The deckchairs are by Lona, and the poolside benches were custom-made in cotton fabrics from Rice by Marta Mantero in Comporta.

THIS PAGE The kitchen is a study in concrete, from the solid island to the floors and waxed countertops. The dining set was sourced from Rice by Marta Mantero. OPPOSITE To one side of the main house, Rita created an outdoor dining space under a pine-slat pergola. The table and benches were made by the construction team’s carpenters.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Crisp and immaculate, the bathrooms combine waxed concrete and zellige tiles on the floor and counters with cupboards dressed in straw by local artisans; in one of the children’s bedrooms, a headboard extends seamlessly into a full-height bookcase; the headboard in the main bedroom also serves as a bookcase, framed by two windows that open onto the pine forest; inspired by the fountains of Alentejo, Rita is behind the design of the white limed concrete headboards and bedside tables in the guest rooms. OPPOSITE Clever mezzanines in the kids’ bedrooms provide space for overnighting friends.