Fuente: Promontorio
Fotografía: Promontorio

Located in the golfing heart of the Algarve, the Victoria is a golf-dedicated hotel directly facing Arnold Palmer’s Victoria golf course (hence the name), and surrounded by two other courses. This quasi-symmetrical building is formed by a main central building and two bedroom wings generating a U-shape facing west. The sense of arrival begins with the entry plaza. With its three independent entrances and stone arcade, its function is to separate the guests fluxes coming as groups, or for conferences, into the lateral canopies, releasing the monumental porte- cochère for the individual visitors. The stunning two-storey lobby offers direct views of the golf course. From there, the guest can descend towards the outside pools and bars, or go up to the fine-dining restaurant and the Spa.

Meticulously detailed in fine stonework, solid wood and handmade ceramics, the building echoes the spirit of prewar grand hotels, as it aspires to a contemporary rethinking of classical splendour.

The façade system is a composite of massive yellow Travertine stone blocks, white precast concrete lintels and light- gold anodized aluminium frames. Also in pre-cast concrete, and as part of the façade composition, the artist Pedro Calapez designed and moulded a series of decorative bas-reliefs.

Location
Vilamoura (Algarve), Portugal

Developer
Espirito Santo Group

Operators
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts/ Banyan Tree

Programme
280-bdr golf resort hotel, conference centre and Spa

Gross Floor Area
36,000 sq.m (of which 12,000 sq.m below grade)

Art Project
Pedro Calapez and Gabriela Albergaria

Estimated Investment
EUR 60m

Project Status
2004 (preliminary studies) – 2009 (built and open to public)