Casa Atlantica, a villa rental by Manuel Aires Mateus in Melides, Alentejo

Architect Manuel Aires Mateus Draws Inspiration from Traditional Alentejo Homes

Manuel Aires Mateus completed Casa Atlantica in 2015. The design was born from the land: 17 acres of Mediterranean forest on the edge of a low hill chain, with the Atlantic visible to the west and olive, lemon, and orange groves below. He created four separate monolithic structures that read differently at each hour of the day.

The main house holds the living room, kitchen, dining area, and master bedroom. Pale interiors and large windows keep the inside connected to the forest and sky. A marble bathroom serves the master. The furniture mixes contemporary pieces with vintage finds. Splashes of color and texture balance the drama of the concrete shell, and a fireplace anchors the living room for cooler months. The three bungalows are sparer: each is a single en-suite bedroom, oriented east to west.

Each bungalow opens onto an east-facing patio overlooking the lawn and orchards. On the western side, a larger garden patio extends the social space of the house in the direction of the sunset and the Atlantic view. A heated swimming pool sits within the grounds, and a herb garden runs along one edge of the property (guests are welcome to harvest for the kitchen).

Read an interview with food stylist Imogen Kwok about her visit to Casa Atlantica, in our magazine here.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Melides, Alentejo, sleeps up to eight guests in four separate structures on 17 acres. The main building holds the living room, kitchen, dining area, and master bedroom with marble en-suite bathroom and bathtub. Three independent bungalows each contain one en-suite double bedroom with east-facing patio access. There is one additional guest WC. All bungalows are oriented east to west and have sea views. Total: four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, one half bath.

* Bedroom 1 — King, en suite, marble bath, main house

* Bedroom 2 — King, en suite, bungalow, east patio

* Bedroom 3 — King, en suite, bungalow, east patio

* Bedroom 4 — Twin (king on request), en suite, bungalow, east patio

* Crib available

* 1 guest WC

Good to know

The heated pool is included in the rate from May through October. A supplement of €200 applies for pool heating from November through April. The weekly rate includes a midweek clean with full linen changeover. Additional cleaning is available on request and subject to availability at €22 per hour. Maximum occupancy is eight guests. Infants and toddlers are the only exception, with a crib and high chair available on site. A car is essential.

Amenities & services

Air conditioning, heating, indoor fireplace, heated pool (supplement Nov–Apr), pool toys, full kitchen, dishwasher, coffee maker, washer, dryer, bathtub, rain shower, toiletries provided, TV, wifi throughout, on-site parking, garden, high chair, crib

Around

Melides sits at the quiet end of the Comporta corridor, the stretch of Atlantic coast an hour south of Lisbon that has become one of Portugal's most talked-about addresses. The closest beach, Aberta Nova, a long arc of Atlantic sand backed by pine, is a 10-minute drive. Praia do Pego and Praia Carvalhal are within 30 minutes and rank among Portugal's finest beaches. Two golf courses have recently opened bringing a new draw to the region. The former fishing village of Comporta, on the Tróia Peninsula, is 30 minutes north. It's increasingly fashionable but still possessed of genuine character. To the south are Santiago do Cacém, with its Moorish fortifications and cobblestone streets, and the ancient Roman settlement of Miróbriga, both within 30 minutes. The Serra de Grândola valley runs just below the property. A car is essential.