Estalagem da Ponta do Sol

Confident in its simplicity and conceding to what mother nature offers, the stunning property by architect Tiago Oliveira is all straight edges, yet still conforms to the slate outcroppings high above the village. Layering itself down a slate cliff, the hotel is cut into the rocky landscape in a series of thick, stone walls. Given the overwhelming view, the challenge was to establish a sequence of eye-catchers and wind barriers that create points of interest all over the grounds. In the end several circuits were created – some through a covered bridge, others on the ground – which intersect or even join up at certain points. The hotel’s flat surfaces and many angles create stark shadows that seem to carve the entire space as well.

Aiming to highlight the natural surrounding beauty, Portuguese interior designer Carvalho Araújo painted rooms’ walls white and chose minimalist furnishings in light wood. Floors of black stone are strewn with grey rugs and classic black-and-white photography on the walls further emphasizes the monochrome look.

After completing a degree in tourism and marketing from Cornell University, André Diogo worked for several years in the hotel business, but was looking for his own brand of inspiration. In 1997, he launched Estalagem da Ponta do Sol, situated on a mountainous terrain off the coast of Madeira, with his childhood friend, architect Tiago Oliveira. Honoring the simple and the sophisticated in the pursuit of relaxation, Diogo feels that everything about his hotel should be connected to its natural surroundings. With a passion for travel, design, art, and culture, he believes that what makes a property beautiful is its energy and the people it attracts.