A NEW development in Portugal's relatively unspoiled western Algarve has won several accolades for its method of eco-friendly construction. Alma Verde village and spa is situated on the site of a rustic farm surrounded by fig and olive groves, 2kms from the picturesque fishing village of Bergau and 10 minutes' drive from Lagos, writes Kate McMorrow.
The Costa Vicentina Natural Park, a mecca for walkers and surfers, is on the doorstep. Between Alma Verde and the sea is the protected Parque Natural de Sudoeste which is unlikely to be developed in the foreseeable future. The extension of the A22 motorway along the entire Algarve coastline has made the Lagos area more accessible to second homeowners.
Three and four-bedroom villas with private pools are for sale at Alma Verde costing from €474,000 to €764,00. A new phase of townhouses and apartments is about to begin, with prices as yet undecided.
Current owners have been in residence for some time and the landscaping is maturing well, with thick tea-tree hedgerows and an abundance of flowering shrubs.
A wellness spa provides a tranquil Zen area in the heart of the development, although an ambitious main spa building with greatly enhanced sports facilities is at the planning stage. There are tennis courts and a children's playground through a stand of umbrella pines.
When completed, the village will consist of 130 villas, 28 townhouses and one and two-storey apartment blocks. Ten per cent of the 36-hectare site is designated for construction, leaving plenty of open space for sports areas and indigenous woodland. Design is traditional, with clay roof tiles, white-painted walls and gardens planted with lawn and sub-tropical plants.
Pools are on the south-facing side of the house and those to the front are sheltered by a trellis fence and tea tree hedging. Terraces are overhung by roof extensions, to keep semi-open-plan interiors cool in summer and admit the low winter sun. Central heating is enclosed in vented skirtings.
Most villas are single storey, with tiled floors, double-height timbered ceilings and large roof terraces. Kitchens come with granite worktops and appliances and smart bathrooms include a heated bathmat. Pools are designed to order and can be heated.
There is a rental management system to handle lettings and maid services. A typical four-bedroom villa can achieve up to €2,000 per week in high season, according to the developers.
Apart from winning awards for Developer of the Year, Best Landscaping Design and Best Sustainable Development at the 2007 Homes Overseas magazine awards, developer Elixir also won the European Royal Award for Sustainability for Energy Conservation for the scheme.
The prize-winning formula is a blend of traditional and modern construction methods, aimed at maintaining a year-round even temperature and conserving energy. The Algarve region experiences high humidity levels in summer and fairly wet winters, so air conditioning is essential to prevent damp.
Building materials such as sun-dried adobe bricks (made on site) were selected for their thermal and insulation properties, while natural renewable materials such as timber ceilings, windows and doors are part of the standard spec.
Underground pipes deliver cool air into the buildings via discreet skirting vents, providing air-conditioning at a low energy cost. Energy bills have been drastically reduced.
The western Algarve is dotted with picturesque fishing villages and popular resorts such as Burgau, Lagos and Praia da Luz, the town still traumatised by the disappearance of Madeleine McCann last year. Nearby Costa Vincentina Natural Park is an ecological preserve of outstanding beauty. The high cliffs of Cape St Vincent mark the south-westerly tip of Europe.
