Villa MAM

Next Gen Beach House

Two contemporary residential hangars clad in contrasting corrugated metal with a glass breezeway connecting them, this one-of-a-kind residence is a next-generation Comporta beach house. All steely and strong-lined, the novel property fits into a scene of wind-sculpted pines and native grasses, merging concrete, glass and metal with softer furnishings including upcycled materials, natural textiles, and vivid pop art.

A new wave getaway on the Comporta sands only 12 kilometers from the beach, this neo-industrial residence takes its design cues from spacious hangars, urban lofts, and stark modern art galleries. It’s a winning combination, an unexpectedly luxurious residence that feels boldly creative. Here, repurposed objects are at home with fine art, and cushy, color-pop furnishings dress up concrete block walls and innovative chain link ceiling accents. Old doors serve as room partitions. Picture windows brighten the home with wide panoramas, and antique pieces add to the mix along with a sturdy, commercial-quality kitchen and bar.

AROUND

Hike, birdwatch or amble across the sand at this home outside of Comporta. The beach is a quick 12-kilometer drive from the house, and the home makes a great base for exploring the area, a hotspot as multifaceted as the property itself. Hip global nomads have marked coastal Comporta, in Portugal’s Alentejo, as a favorite playground, riding in on the coattails of fashion designers, international architects, entrepreneurial urbanites, and modern art collectors. This mostly unspoiled region is undeniably beautiful, a landscape of vineyards and cork oak fields, unexpected rice paddies, and groves of glinting olive and citrus trees. Villages are watched over by huge stork’s nests, and the region has historically been more agricultural than touristy. 

Comporta is well loved for its easygoing elegance and trendy artisanal boutiques, lively galleries and handful of cute cafes. Nearby Melides is also a favorite of design-conscious shoppers who delight in the burgeoning selection of galleries, studio/workshops, and carefully curated boutiques. Surfers and sun seekers come for the region’s wide sands and crashing waves, and outdoorsy types should venture inland for the higher altitude relief of the Serra de Grândola, land of footpaths, hiking trails, and gurgling streams. A place of decided contrasts, the region still offers simple coastal cafes that sizzle with the sound of grilled sardines, alongside more well-heeled, star-worthy dining rooms.

LOCATION

Comporta, Alentejo, Portugal. Nearest airport: Lisbon (125km)

BEST TIME TO VISIT: April to November