“Casa da Lavandeira” was originally an 18th-century manor estate in the Douro region, in northern Portugal, within the municipality of Baião along the banks of the Ovil River. The property has since been transformed into a tourism development with 14-hectare dedicated to wine production, adapting the estate to a new hospitality program.

This countryside retreat brings together a diverse range of natural and built spaces, creating an environment where architecture and landscape coexist in perfect balance.
Existing structures have been carefully renovated to preserve their original character, while new interventions are thoughtfully distributed throughout the surrounding nature. These leisure-oriented wooden units blend into the terrain, establishing a close relationship with the natural setting.
The wooden Branas, designed through sustainable construction principles and characterized by their distinctive curves, provide unique spatial experiences by enhancing the connection between interior and exterior spaces, always immersed in the surrounding landscape.

Guided by the principles of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), the landscape architecture project reinforces the harmonious relationship between architecture, agricultural production, and the surrounding ecosystem. The intervention focused on enhancing the site’s existing features — terraced vineyards, native vegetation, watercourses, and panoramic views — ensuring continuity with the identity and character of the place.
Sustainability was a fundamental driver of the project and informed several key strategies:
• Efficient water management through careful plant selection and the implementation of drip irrigation systems tailored to the actual needs of the vegetation;
• The use of resilient native species that enhance local biodiversity, reduce maintenance requirements, and strengthen ecosystem services;
• Protection and restoration of natural habitats, particularly riparian zones and ecologically sensitive areas, ensuring the continuity of ecological functions;
• Integration of agricultural production with sustainable viticulture practices, respecting natural soil cycles and minimizing dependence on external resources;
• Creation of pedestrian pathways and contemplative spaces designed to provide visitors with an authentic and responsible experience of the Douro landscape.
The project was conceived with long-term resilience in mind, ensuring adaptability to climate change, reducing the estate’s ecological footprint, and promoting a conscious and sustainable model of tourism.
The farm ultimately stands as an example of how tradition, landscape, and innovation can converge into a balanced development model, one that celebrates the territory while safeguarding it for future generations.

Name of the project: LAVANDEIRA DOURO NATURE & WELLNESS

Landscape architecture design: Neoturf Espaços Verdes

Architecture offices involved in the design: FCC Arquitectura (Fernando Coelho)

Client: Carlos Gomes

Location: Baião, Portugal

Year Completed: 2023

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