The Banana House

Arco da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal
4 guests
2 bedrooms
1 bathroom

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Stylishly Comfortable: A property designed with great style and with amenities that offer a relaxed stay.

House: A standalone unit of accommodation

Coastal: At land’s end, on the water’s edge

Architectural Retreat in a Banana Grove

Surrounded by the green sea of banana trees that give the house its name, this two-story, stone and earth-toned retreat rises from a slope over the Atlantic Ocean on the Madeiran coast. The home’s terraced architecture, bold texture, and clean-lined geometry combine to create an oceanview getaway that is at once a standout rural residence and a minimalist haven tucked unexpectedly into an extraordinary location.

An Architectural Haven Rising from a Coastal Banana Grove

This home by Tabaibo Atelier architects boasts two levels (one in local basalt stone, the other in an earthen plaster) that rise from an ocean of fluttering banana tree leaves. A pool is tucked into the terraced structure, and decks soar above the Fajã do Mar coastline, their sightlines spanning the leafy domain out to the rolling waves.

Two bedrooms, one a king, the other with two single beds, open to the garden, marked by mango and fig trees and a small saltwater pool of 7m x 3m, surrounded by decking ideal for yoga and sun loungers to soak up Madeira’s signature, year-round sun. There’s a barbecue deck and shaded dining zone with plantation and ocean views, too.

Layout

Lower stone level: one king bedroom, one double twin bedroom, bathroom

Upper level: kitchen, dining and living area with workstation, balconies

Around

Located within a banana plantation near the rural village of Arco da Calheta on the island of Madeira, this outpost offers views of the Atlantic Ocean across a sea of leaves. The Fajã do Mar path and Nossa Senhora da Vida path both depart from the house, and the island’s green mountains serve as the location’s backdrop. Numerous hiking trails extend off the paths, a popular lookout trail the Fajã do Mar to the Paúl da Serra plateau and a forested favorite through the Laurasilva woods of laurel trees. The region is notably volcanic, and hikers can roam both craters and rugged peaks. With the Atlantic shimmering in the near distance, the home makes a great base for water sports, too, including surfing, sport fishing, and diving. Mountain bikers can take to the trails as well, and the mountains are a jump-off point for paragliders, too. The village of Arco da Calheta is known as a base for outdoor recreation. There are numerous beaches, restaurants and cafes, and a small harbor, plus golf and a well-known market with colorful local produce, including the home’s namesake bananas, plus figs, mangos and much more.