Revel in the True Luxury of Cabo Verde’s Barefoot Luxury

Seaside Villas Capture the Beauty and Tradition of Local Architecture and Design

Name:
Barefoot Luxury Hotel
Location:
Cabo Verde, West-Africa
Architects:
POLO Architects
Photography:
Francisco Nogueira
Words:
Marissa Stempien

It’s hard to define true luxury. But Cabo Verde’s Barefoot Luxury may have found the answer in their new architectural project. Cradled by the rocky mountains in the Baia de João d’Evora, this one-of-a-kind hospitality design, spearheaded by Serge Hannecart and Jan Talboom, includes 30 villas and a hotel, all built with respect to the local culture, people, and environment.

The luxury villas seem to almost melt into the rocky landscape, disappearing in a mirage of brown, ochre, and terra cotta, hidden in the otherworldly scenery. It captures the senses, surrounding one with a feeling of beauty, calm, and simplicity that makes one slow down and forget the constraints of time, which, Barefoot Luxury may argue, is the one true luxury left to us.

POLO Architects, the local agency tasked with the design by LIFE, Hannecart’s Antwerp-based real estate development company, built the villas from raw concrete, a traditionally Cabo Verdean architectural technique. Inside the homes, Going East, an Antwerp-based interior design studio, worked with local craftsmen to create a sense of the nearby landscape and scoured local markets for objects d’ art to incorporate into the decor.

Respect for nature surrounding the villas was both an aesthetic choice and physical necessity. The Baia de João d’Evora on Cape Verde's São Vicente is home to a rocky and almost extraterrestrial climate that, despite being a 15-minute drive from the nightlife and entertainment of nearby Mindelo, is home to harsh winds, bold sunlight, and somewhat unforgiving terrain. To solve these issues, large kotibé wood panels surround pools and terraces that pivot to allow for easy transition between jaw-dropping views or shelter from the strong winds. Pergolas locally made from rattan provide shade in the patio and pool areas.

Here, visitors and owners will experience unspoiled beaches, with views extending from the cragged-yet-picturesque mountain ranges to the scenic azure sea below. Barefoot Luxury is about reconnecting with nature in a place of serenity and privacy with your loved ones, whether you choose to visit for a reprieve from daily life or to make the seaside your new home. It’s a place to experience a new culture, lifestyle, and some of the truest luxuries in life.