- Outdoor & travel
Da Licença is a beautiful serene boutique hotel in Portugal where art and hospitality come together. The enchanting surroundings inspired the sober and natural decor in which contemporary design is combined with art and local craftsmanship.
Originally, Da Licença was to become a private haven for owners Victor Borges and Frank Laigneau. They were looking for a holiday home and immediately fell in love with this place. The villa is located in Alentejo in the south of Portugal in beautiful surroundings full of hills, olive trees and small white villages. The owners wanted to share all that beauty and therefore transformed the residence into a cosy and elegant boutique hotel. They also like to share their passion for art with guests and visitors. That's why Da Licença is a gallery at the same time and we find art throughout the hotel. 
The goal was to create a dialogue between art and nature
The farmhouse dates from the nineteenth century and was transformed by Procal architects into a modern refuge with clean lines and discreet volumes. This with respect for the traditional character of the building. The monochrome of the completely white exterior is continued in the minimalist and beige interior. However, different geometric openings are played with in order to break through this monochrome palette. Thanks to different courtyards, gardens and terraces, a flowing connection between interior and exterior is created. 
The interior was decorated by the owners themselves with a mix of contemporary design, local craftsmanship and a beautiful art collection. The rooms are shrouded in a sober beige palette with furniture and decoration of natural materials such as wood and rattan. The goal here was to create a dialogue between art and nature. In addition to works of art in the suites and communal areas, there is also a special separate space that serves as a gallery in which works of art and furniture are displayed. Laigneau and Borges are particularly passionate about the Art Nouveau period. It is mainly such works that we find a lot here and also the flowing, natural forms and strong geometric lines of this style are used throughout the hotel. 
Photographer: Francisco Nogueira