The Saudade retreat, is more than a residence—it is a philosophy of joyful reminiscence and longing. A sanctuary designed to take you back to the essence of what it truly feels like to arrive home. A metaphysical, cinematic zen getaway, sculpted around a breathtaking landscape.
Every moment spent within this space feels like time stands still.
A high tech futuristic state-of-the-art sea view villa amidst a rustic farmstead. Fully equipped with wines, alcohol, drinks & a well stocked kitchen.
Perched in the small township of Ribeira Brava, the hinterland of Madeira’s southern coastline, the Saudade retreat offers a stunning view of volcanic hillsides to the north and dramatic, endless seas to the south. The location is a celebration of nature’s extremes, where the lush green mountains collide with the untamed Atlantic Ocean.
Saudade is an invitation to live differently, to immerse yourself in rustic outfields whilst embracing the cutting-edge technology of tomorrow with extraordinary amenities. Every design decision speaks to a harmonious balance between health, wellbeing, and the future, powered by the latest innovations to create an autonomous, fully connected living environment.
Each space is an emotional journey, a set of experiments tailored to heighten your senses, inviting you into a perpetual dreamscape. An interplay of color, texture, and light evokes a sense of timelessness. You’ll find yourself lost in the serenity of the surroundings, as the house blurs the lines between inside and outside.
The site is surrounded by sacred UNESCO heritage geoparks, mountains and waterfalls. Saudade lies minutes from white sandy beaches, golf courses, and the island’s capital, Funchal. Breathtakingly quiet, you are greeted only by the distant sound of birds each time you return home, the ever-present rhythm of the sea, and the whispering of the wind through neighbouring banana and cane plantations.
As day fades to night, the house transforms, bathed in the mesmerizing glow of projected lights over the heated jacuzzi, mimicking the local finches that dance through the air in a murmuration. It’s a sensory experience designed to capture the essence of Madeira’s natural beauty, and the art of living in harmony with the land. Moody luminosity is at the centre of this home that transforms into a shining beacon in the dark.
There is a notion of cultivated landscape in this otherwise wild context that we live in, amongst a palm forest and wild grass, with its own private plantation that grows over 150 species of exotic fruits, vegetables, salads and herbs, all watered with precision engineered systems using spring water from the mountains that runs into the house through an exposed flowing stream. This creates a beautiful sound of ever-running water every time you step outside or return home.
Every detail, is considered, where space has a purpose and nothing is wasted. From the architecture that brings nature indoors, the white sand beach lounge with a smokeless firepit, outdoor fireplace, feet dipping lounge, pet pool, dining under the moss canopy and BBQ lounge, to the reflective surfaces that capture the changing light throughout the day, Saudade is a living, breathing space that shifts and evolves as the light changes.
The homestead is furnished with a carefully curated selection of sustainable, vegan products and luxury fittings from around the world, that augment the entire experience.
With private plantation gardens, advanced sustainability features, and a design that feels both foreign and familiar, Saudade is a masterpiece that redefines modern living in Madeira. A poetic balance of innovation and history.
Key Features:
1. Magnesium spa infinity pool with a see-through glass wall, an incredible turquoise blue color and water that leaves your skin soft and cared for.
2. Heated jacuzzi with air and water massagers, waterfall and lounge bed, alongside an outdoor cinema.
3. White sand beach lounge.
4. Three firepits: wood fired and a smokeless marshmallow-roasting pit.
5. Ancestral ceremonial lounge: our new spiritual lounge, for your exclusive use where you can practice yoga, ayahuasca ceremonies, meditation, or just sit by a fire and relax with your loved ones over wine.
6. Palm gardens with areca bamboo arches through the entrance to immerse the home in nature whilst giving your more privacy.
7. Horticulture food garden, herb garden and fruit orchards to pick harvests when you like.
8. Outdoor cinema: enjoy your favourite shows over the hot water jacuzzi.
9. En-suite super king bedrooms, designed uniquely and inspired from nature like our black volcanic room, Roman spa room and light-leaks room.
10. Roman spa bath with dramatic views of the ocean.
11. Equipped gym with a rower, treadmill, bike, weights & bench, boxing gloves and yoga mat.
12. Library over a jacuzzi and outdoor cinema: read some fascinating books and revel in tranquility of the scenery.
13. Feet dipping lounge for when you want to sit in the water without getting wet.
14. 270 degree glass house, open every door and every corner in the living floor to live outwards in an open plan spa house experience like never before.
15. All bedrooms are en-suite including rain showers and lush toiletries from the award winning brand Aesop.
16. Tea & coffee relaxing lounges, with dramatic sunsets and rises over banana plantations.
17. Star-gazing lounges, under the backdrop of the infinity glass wall spa pool for epic night time views.
18. Children and pet pool, where you can just let them play all day without a worry on your mind.
19. Special edition wines and alcohol: try a unique spirit from around the world or a wine, champagne or rosé from various regions of Portugal.
20. Fully-equipped home and furnished with high end inventory from Scandinavia. Experience a holiday without compromise.
21. Full home smart automation to control every electrical and mechanical part of the home.
22. Keyless face ID & QR code stress-free access.
23. Fully controllable on iPad. Using our in-home devices, you have access to the entire house's features.
24. Privacy switchable electric glass: with the magical press of a button, you can choose your privacy in the spa washrooms.
25. Rain, wind and sun sensors that manage the house without human intervention. Our panels open and close with the wind and in storms, outdoor lights only turn on when the sun sets, and we do not waste water on over 2000 plants when it is raining.
26. Aroma control machines, filled with a beautiful fragrance of citronella oil, to keep the bugs out and a beautiful undertone of lemongrass around the home.
27. Robot lawn mowers so the grass is always perfect. Touch grass, and walk on our incredible Swedish wild grass around the lounges that create pathways wherever you commonly pass.
28. Robot pool cleaners, so that the magnesium spa pool is always turquoise blue and ready for a dip.
29. Apple sound systems, so that you have a surround sound experience across the entire home and airplay your own music anywhere, anytime.
30. Natural levada private access to an iconic nature walk, and a sensor-activated home facade motion with water streams along the entrance, the sounds of water greeting you every time you step in or out.
31. Calibrated home modes for easy use such as meditation, reading, entertainment, dining and party mode. Over 500 switches that transform the house with a press of a button, ready to use in a pre-calibrated curated environment for your enjoyment.
32. Automated facade mirror panels that move on demand: set your own scene and privacy needs across the top level of the home.
33. Automated curtain systems: choose when to let the sun in, or when you want the oceanic drama.
34. Ambient home mood lighting, mode- and sensor-activated for ease of use, whilst creating mesmerising ambient backdrops in the evening.
35. Illumination across every plantar and steps, for safety and a constant reminder of the wild nature around us.
36. Automated drip feed and sprinkler irrigation systems, to ensure our plantations and gardens with over 2000 plants are always green and thriving.
37. Security systems, home safety monitors and outdoor cameras keeping you safe at all times and safely monitoring fire, smoke and carbon monoxide levels.
38. Hotel standard air conditioning climate control systems, keeping every room at its own unique temperature or control the whole home's climate at all times.
39. Photovoltaic solar energy generation of 30KW a day. Enjoy every feature of this state-of-the-art home, guilt free.
40. Heat pumps with 300L of hot water, limitless hot water rain showers where you can dream without watching the clock.
41. Siemens connected appliances for avid cooks: microwave, oven, dishwasher, induction hobs, inverted extractors, as well as washing machine and dryer.
