570 kilometers from the coast of West Africa, the Republic of Cabo Verde emerges, archipelago composed by 10 volcanic islands that cover a 4,000-square kilometer area. These islands, where the official language is Portuguese -yet the native tongue is Creole- reflect a surprising ethnic diversity within their population (originally an African-European mix, with European background from Portugal, Spain, and Italy), offering the perfect combination of sun and beaches, with a rich scene in the form of music, dance, and cuisine.
For the past years, Cabo Verde has become a much appreciated destination by travelers from all across the world and one of the tourist markets with greatest growth, reflecting the rise of the population’s standard of living, the highest in all the Western Africa area.
The islands offer a strange lunar landscape, through craters, bumps, and rocks. This environment, and its arid landscape covered in brown, ocher, and red hues, contrasts dramatically with the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean. And it is right here, in this space, in this atmosphere, where the philosophy of enjoying life “barefoot” makes sense and turns into a reality. The coastal city of Mindelo, in the island of São Vicente, receives a new real estate project, built with the same rocks found in adjacent mountains, becoming a whole with nature. A more simple, sustainable, and aware life translates into a work where local craftsmanship and contemporary architecture go hand in hand.
Barefoot Luxury has been developed by the Belgian architectural firm Polo Architects, and its 12 villas (although 30 are planned) camouflage with the landscape and are designed to exploit/enjoy the most out of the views and the light. These perform a wrapping movement around a central courtyard with a pergola, which in turn offers it shade. This wrapping gesture causes for an intangible life space to be created, which protects from the harsh wind that hits the valley hard. Rotating panels (made of African Kotibe wood) offer residents the option to choose between panoramic views of the ocean and protection against the wind.
The charming and old Colonial city of Mindelo has a tragic history. After the arrival of Portuguese colonists, they brought African slaves with them. Their descendants live in the islands today. This context has determined the way in which we treat this project. The last thing we wanted was to set a luxurious vacation complex in a relatively poor country. Having respect for the surroundings was also essential.- Patrick Lootens, founding partner of Polo Architects, states.
The firm developed a sustainable vision on the rocky slopes of Baia de João d’Evora, a virgin bay in the island of São Vicente, since an ethically responsible tourism is expected. The way in which the project is handled is by respecting the environment and the local people. The villas have one or two floors and were built using concrete in a traditional way, exactly the way they do it locally. Blocks of basalt were piled up, brought from the surrounding valley, in this way, the construction is camouflaged by the landscape. The roads, also made with basaltic rock, connect the villas with one another. The workforce for the development benefitted from the local craftspeople expertise, irrefutable proof that local craftsmanship and contemporary architecture create a good synergy.
Each villa features its own garden and pool, an indoor and outdoor kitchen, and rooms with built-in bathrooms. The houses were decorated in an austere fashion. The vintage furniture mixed with local findings complement the architecture successfully. “Most of the furniture in the villas is made by local artisans. We have looked for items in Mindelo markets, which go from shark teeth to Awalé game boards, wicker baskets, and cassava mortars. The interiors remind us that we are on African soil”, Anaïs Torfs and Michiel Mertens share, who are in charge of the design and part of the Going East studio team.
In a time when the world turns to look at the environment in detail, where every day and every thing matters, the development, on the contrary, places its focus on a technological mentality for the new options. These villas are the clear example that a deliberate focus on basic technologies is able to connect cultures. In this world where we are speed slaves, where everything works through clicks, perhaps this is the point where we yearn for a slower kind of life. Living more peacefully and with greater awareness, in synergy with nature and in sustainable buildings, undoubtedly, the new luxury.
Location: Mindelo, Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde | Architects: Polo Architects | Interior | Design: Going East | Total Area (Phase 1): 16.3 ha | Photo: Francisco Nogueira