Aquiles Eco Hotel: A Renewable Timber Prototype by the Sea, São Pedro, Cabo Verde

Located in the main square of a small fishermen village, the Aquiles Eco Hotel intentionally integrates into the existing social structure and architecture of its coastal surroundings. The architecture is simple, raw, and flexible, establishing a dialogue with the neighboring houses and small buildings. Designed as a sustainable prototype, the hotel prioritizes renewable resources to protect the fragile local ecosystem from depletion.

The Vision

The eco-hotel aims to offer an authentic experience that connects visitors directly to the local context rather than isolating them. By omitting televisions from the rooms, the design actively encourages guests to discover the village and engage in open-air experiences. However, low-tech installations like wi-fi in the common areas ensure visitors remain linked to the wider world when necessary. The ground floor serves as an open space featuring a reception, kitchen, and restaurant lounge, decorated with simple furniture crafted from the recycled wood originally used for the concrete formwork. Artworks by artist-architect Moreno Castellano further enrich these communal interior spaces.

Tectonics

Because the island of Sao Vicente suffers from a fragile ecosystem where sand and stones are protected by local laws and not renewable in the short term, the architects opted against traditional masonry. Instead, the hotel utilizes certified wood to ensure renewability and sustainability. <image: Shutterstock timber portal frame construction detail> The primary structure features thirteen wooden, container-sized rooms nestled within a beton brut concrete framework that is painted with traditional lime putty. Each room is constructed using a basic portal skeleton made of 8x8 wooden bars, clad in a skin of assembled wooden panels to fit the simple village lifestyle.

The Living Building

Designed with a "think global, act local" methodology, the structure is highly adaptable. The wooden modules provide a flexible solution that is easy to assemble, disassemble, or even relocate depending on unpredictable tourist demands. To combat the tropical dry climate and strong Aliseum winds, the design relies entirely on cross-ventilation, eliminating the need for artificial air conditioning. <image: Shutterstock passive cross-ventilation airflow diagram> Resource conservation is further emphasized through a water management system where shower water is recycled and reused for toilet flushing. The building's flat rooftop also anticipates the future installation of photovoltaic panels to increase its self-sufficiency.

Data Sheet