Located in the countryside of Baião, Portugal, and designed by FCC Arquitectura, Lavandeira Douro Nature & Wellness is a wellness retreat surrounded by vast vineyards and lush forest. Housed in an 18th century granite manor house, the main structure comprises a chapel, hall, several rooms, kitchen with traditional fireplace and bedrooms. Other adjacent buildings have been converted into accommodation.
Founded by architects Fernando Coelho and Ana Loureiro, FCC Arquitectura unveils a series of luxury cabins for Lavandeira Douro Nature & Wellness, a hospitality project in northern Portugal that combines nature, wellness and local gastronomy. These accommodations appear futuristic at first glance, although they preserve the rustic essence through thermo-treated ash cladding, resulting in a minimalist interior with large glass facades. Located near the banks of the Douro River, close to the famous Ancede wine region, the group of cabins is inspired by traditional pastoral transhumance settlements, known as brandas in Portuguese. Given the severe footprint and height restrictions, the design is open-plan, with pine-clad living spaces facing two side bedrooms with natural black slate bathrooms. Originally a modest renovation project, it became a forty-six-room complex. The spa offers everything you’d expect from a five-star hotel: heated pool, hydromassage, sauna, Turkish bath and gym. Named after one of the farm’s horses, the Elmo restaurant is housed in converted stables. Here, Fernando Coelho has preserved the structure of the former agricultural warehouse, while interior designer Paulo Lobo has redesigned the interiors, spilling out onto a large terrace with panoramic views over the vineyards. The regional cuisine of native chef Paulo Magalhães prevails over the salad bar’s organic menu, all complemented by the estate’s own wines and olive oil.
