With sweeping views of the sea, Casas da Vargem sit in a sunny location on a hillside above the village centre of Ponta do Sol on Madeira’s south coast. The semi-detached house was built on two stone warehouses that had fallen into ruin. They were reconstructed and supplemented with cubic volumes of similar dimensions that cascade down the terrain, creating patios in between.
From the street side, the casas are hard to make out: They are situated below street level—only the top floor of the larger half of the house is partly visible; a few steps lead down to the entrance. The smaller half is accessed via an external staircase. The interiors of the casas merge seamlessly into one another; each level has an exit to the outdoors. On the upper level is the bedroom (or two bedrooms in the larger holiday home), followed by a lounge corner and the kitchen with dining area, which opens onto the terrace with large windows. The furnishings are simple and minimalist, but have a warm character thanks to the wooden floors and furniture. The main attraction is the view over the hills to the sea.
The casas share an infinity pool surrounded by tropical plants. In addition, each house has a hot tub located at each side. Below the houses is a lush organic garden—guests may take herbs, vegetables or fruit at their leisure.
What to do
The houses are in a rural location, but still close to the village centre with bars, restaurants, shops and the beach. One of the typical levadas (footpath along a watercourse) can be reached in a 20-minute walk. Excursions to the capital Funchal and the sights of the island.
Why we like this house
Simple and beautiful houses with pool and hot tub; the sea is always within sight and the lush nature within reach.
This house is great for
Depending on the size of the respective house, perfect for couples or families.
Sustainability
The house does without air conditioning. All the rooms can be opened up to the outside or to the patios, so that cross-ventilation can cool the house down in summer. The windows are positioned to make the most of the sunlight without causing the indoor temperature to get too hot.
Details
| Region | PT – Portugal, Madeira, Ponta do Sol |
| Name | Casas da Vargem |
| Scenery | In a sunny location on a hillside above the village centre |
| Number of guests | 2 houses for max. 2 and 4 guests each; the houses can also be rented together, then there is room for 6 guests! |
| Completed | 2020 |
| Design | Rik Den und Carolina Sumares, Studio Dois, Calheta (PT) |
| Architecture | Modern |
| Accomodation | House |
| Criteria | 1-2 (house/apartment), 1-4 (house/apartment), 1-6 (house/apartment), Beach, Family, Garden, Hiking, Island, Pool, Sea, Urban, Wine |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with a white background, the accommodation is still fully available. If an accommodation has more than one rentable unit, days with free capacities are shown with a light grey background. On days with a dark grey background, the accommodation is not available.
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