PORTUGAL MODERN
Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood flooring, hardwood finishes, wood-stained ceiling, modern lighting fixtures, and a spacious room design. Photo by The Modernist Faro Google Maps
Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood flooring, hardwood finishes, wood-stained ceiling, modern lighting fixtures, and a spacious room design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing a composite material wall, wooden balcony with houseplants in flowerpots, and extensive daylighting through shaded areas. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood-stained flooring, a glass daybed, minimalist furniture, and a ceiling with clean lines in a bright apartment room. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro hotel showcasing a sleek commercial building with a glass façade and clean, geometric lines. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood flooring, stained hardwood walls, and minimalist door design emphasizing natural materials and clean lines. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing a concrete and brick façade with large glass windows, composite material walls, and a minimalist interior featuring polished flooring and exposed ceiling elements. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing a minimalist design with a wood-stained hardwood floor, composite material walls, metal accents, concrete structural elements, and a modern gate integrated into the façade. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing tile flooring, composite material ceiling, and expansive glass walls emphasizing transparency and modern hall design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood flooring, hardwood door with molding, and framed artwork on the wall. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood flooring, minimalist furniture, and clean-lined walls in a bright living room with a high ceiling. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a grey exterior with wood flooring, silver accents, and outdoor furniture arranged on a sleek terrace. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood-stained flooring, ceiling panels, minimalist furniture, and a warm, modern apartment room design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a sleek interior with hardwood flooring, minimalist furniture including plastic chairs and a wooden coffee table, emphasizing clean lines and functional design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a minimalist wooden façade with visible wood stain and a sleek, cantilevered roof structure. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing an interior room with wood-stained flooring, wooden ceiling panels, minimalist furniture, and modern wall design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a concrete and plaster façade with blue walls, balconies adorned with flowerpots and houseplants, and surrounding palm trees. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a sleek apartment building with balconies featuring handrails, shaded areas, and houseplants enhancing daylighting. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro commercial building showcasing a sleek glass façade with clean lines and a minimalist structural design. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a mixed-use commercial and apartment building with balconies and a sleek glass façade. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing a red composite material façade with metal and concrete elements, wood-stained accents, a painted gate, and a houseplant visible near the entrance. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing an interior with wooden flooring, minimalist wall design, a sleek staircase, and modern ceiling elements. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a concrete and composite material structure with plaster finishes, daylighting elements, stairs with handrails, and minimalist building materials. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a sleek apartment balcony with outdoor furniture, houseplants, and floor-to-ceiling glass panels. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing a composite material façade with wood-stained balconies, daylighting features, and sleek handrails. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro interior showcasing wood-stained shelving with hardwood varnish, plywood elements, modern light fixtures, lamps, and curtains. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s Modernist Faro showcasing a transparent glass façade with hardwood elements, abundant daylighting, wood-stained structural assemblies, and surrounding vegetation including geraniums and plantation greenery. Manuel Gomes da Costa’s The Modernist Faro showcasing an interior room with sleek wall paneling, modern furniture, recessed ceiling lighting, and polished flooring.
+23

he Modernist Faro – A Gateway to Southern Portugal’s Architectural Heritage

Faro, the capital of the Algarve, is quietly emerging as one of the most important centers of modernist architecture in Southern Europe. During the mid-20th century, a group of visionary architects—many of them trained at the prestigious Porto School of Architecture—reinterpreted the Bauhaus and International Style through the lens of Algarve’s light, climate, and lifestyle. Among them, Manuel Gomes da Costa, Fernando Távora, and Manuel Laginha led the charge in redefining what Modernism could look like in a southern, coastal context.

At the heart of this legacy is The Modernist Faro, a striking example of Portuguese Modern Architecture. Originally built in the early 1970s by architect Joel Santana, the building is a bold composition of geometric lines and functional design, recently restored by award-winning architecture studio Par. The renovation preserves the original soul of the building—retaining its stonework, wood finishes, and custom-crafted fittings—while introducing the comforts of contemporary living.

This boutique hotel offers six apartment-style suites, each 45m², with private balconies or terraces. Guests enjoy access to a rooftop with panoramic views over the Ria Formosa natural park—one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders—as well as a lush patio garden designed for relaxation and reflection.

Beyond its minimalist charm, The Modernist is a manifesto: a commitment to sustainability, local craftsmanship, and cultural preservation. Every element—from lighting to furniture—was designed and produced in Portugal, much of it sourced within 100 km of Faro. What was once known as “the ugliest building in Faro” has become an architectural landmark and a new chapter in the Algarve’s modernist story.

Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast or a traveler seeking authentic experiences, The Modernist offers more than a stay—it offers a window into Faro’s design heritage. Take their curated self-guided walking tour, explore over 500 modernist buildings in the city, and rediscover the Algarve through the lens of Portuguese modernism.