São Lourenço do Barrocal Hotel, Monsaraz Building, Architect, Images, Portuguese Architecture
São Lourenço do Barrocal Hotel in Monsaraz
Portuguese Vacation Development in Portugal – design by Eduardo Souto de Moura, Architects
27 Mar 2017
São Lourenço do Barrocal Hotel
Architect: Eduardo Souto de Moura
Photography © Nelson Garrido
Location: Monsaraz, Alentejo, Portugal
São Lourenço do Barrocal Hotel

In conversation with Eduardo Souto de Moura

?The ?rst thing that struck me as soon as I arrived was the ambience of this property, which is hard to ?nd. Everyone knows that Alentejo is very beautiful, but I wasn?t expecting to have a prehistoric heritage like this.

Then there were two other factors that were also a surprise where views were concerned. What is unusual in Alentejo is to have water on the edge of the property ? the famous Alqueva Dam and the views of Monsaraz which is lovely from the outside in. The second question was the urban nature of this monte. This is not just a house. This is truly a mini-universe, a village. It has its own hierarchy: a street, a square, outbuildings, cloisters. This is what we rarely ?nd in such good condition.
I see things not for their value as such but always from the point of view of how to handle them. That is, what should I do here" Everyone knows that each historic development is unique and Barrocal is a dif?cult but very interesting project because we are working on the razor?s edge. If we go too far, ...