Inspired by the nearby village where fishing huts on wooden jetties jut out over the water, guests of the Sublime Comporta can dive straight into the Bio Pool from their private terrace. Said to be Europe’s largest biological pool, it is treated solely through the use of aquatic plants so they’re completely chemical free which means you’re swimming in totally naturally cleaned water. Bio Pools are have a swimming zone and another for the purification of water through plants.
Designed by architect Jose Alberto Charrua from Numero Primo, trees and nature is treated in such reverence that many of the villas were designed around the existing trees and floor to ceiling windows allows the guests to feel like they’re closer to nature.
The resort has an impressive list of sustainability initiatives from solar heating, rainwater tanks, onsite waste treatment, edible garden, electric vehicle charging bays, sourcing locally and onsite composting.
Sustainability specs:
– Solar hot water used in villas, main building, spa building and guest suites
– Solar panels are also used for under floor heating and heated swimming pool
– Rainwater tanks supply drinking water and irrigation
– Waste water treatment system onsite
– Biological pool used aquatic plants to treat the water, no chemicals used
– Permaculture edible garden supplies produce for the restaurants, bars and spa
– Site placement of villas is designed around existing trees
– Most villas are built on stilts to minimise impact to the existing vegetation
– Electric car charging bays
– Extensive use of timber and straw thatching
– Floor to ceiling windows provides ample natural light
– Hotel initiatives such as reduction of water usage by re-using towels, reducing single use plastic, no plastic straws used, use of recycled paper, use of regional and seasonal produce, organic and sustainable spa products used
– Onsite composting
The arquitecture of the hotel gives precedence to the selection of sustainable materials that have the least impact on the surrounding nature. in addition, to avoid cutting down trees, many of the villas have actual trees built in them.
Nadine is the founder and editor of Eco Edition and founder of the Eco Edition Design School. She’s an experienced interior designer, sustainable materials consultant, speaker and serial home renovator.