Philippe Starck Unveils A Serra, a 200-Hectare Hospitality Village in Portugal's Alentejo

Philippe Starck has designed A Serra, a 200-hectare hospitality destination in the Serra de Grândola hills near Melides, Portugal. Developed by Larfa Properties, the project includes a 25-suite hotel and 22 private villas, with the hotel set to open in Q2 2028 and residences now offered off-plan starting at $6 million. Starck's personal connection to the Alentejo region, which he first visited over a decade ago, inspired the project. The design team features Atelier AAVV, led by Miguel Passos de Almeida, for architecture, and Filipa Cardoso de Menezes of FC Arquitectura Paisagista for landscaping. Developer Stéphane Delplancq emphasized a minimalist approach to preserve the natural surroundings. Starck's narrative concept involves an absent writer and musician couple, with a note reading 'Join me in the village, down below.' The village includes a farm-to-table restaurant, café, art studio, and pool. Hotel suites will offer 70 sq m interiors and 90 sq m terraces, with 12 having private pools. Villas, likened to yacht cabins, feature concrete shells with terracotta and gold accents. Local artists and craftspeople will contribute to interiors, and workshops in painting, pottery, sculpture, drawing, and cooking will be available. The project aims to create a 'refuge of living art' that blends private home intimacy with luxury hospitality. Starck described the site as 'love at first sight' and said, 'This is it. I think we're finally home.'