Benagil Resort
Lagoa, Benagil (Algarve), Portugal
2022–2008
The resort is located in the what is considered one of the most beautiful sites of the Algarve. The large property stretches from inland all the way to the iconic cliffs that mediate between Benagil and Marinha beaches. Conceptually, it has been devised in three zones, namely, serviced apartments, touristic village and hotel, divided by a system of permeable light circulations, closely aligned with the existing age-old footpaths.
The buildings are positioned in the mandatory setback from the coastline, perpendicular to the sea and along the water lines, allowing the unobstructed integration of the natural waterlines that run to the cliff discharging rainwater. Simultaneously, this massing guarantees views and mitigates the barrier effect that a parallel implantation would create. In addition, a series of secondary roads, mostly dead-ended, for access to the lodging units, generates a green interstitial area in the form of soft valleys that extend southwards from the future municipal road.
The Tourist village is located largely on a plateau, North of the main inner road, with one- and two-storey buildings, with a wide typological range hierarchy in the organization of the whole. South of the aforementioned spine road is the 5-star hotel, the Spa and common facilities of the Tourist Village. In addition, the Serviced Apartments (aparthotel) is organized in a series of nucleuses, in order to avoid continuous building lines in the landscape while guaranteeing crossed views and generous interstitial spaces. Lastly, on the whole non-aedificandi area of the coastline, a system of elevated footpaths and light trails offers visitors a limited but safeguarded proximity to the cliffs.
Location: Lagoa, Benagil (Algarve), Portugal
Client: GNB Gestão de Activos (Grupo Novo Banco)
Landscape Architecture: PROAP
Scope of Services: Masterplanning and landscape architecture
Project Brief: Resort with 5-star hotel, tourist village, Spa, aparthotel and villas
Plot Area: 219,000 sq.m
Gross Floor Area: 68,000 sq.m
Project Status: 2019 (concept masterplan, ongoing)