Twenty-one years ago, in Nov 28th 2004, the Bom Sucesso project was presented to the public for the very first time at the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) in Lisbon.

This year, we were lucky to receive original photographs from the 2004 exhibition, including close-up images of the house models—some of them still made from simple paper and cardboard. These images beautifully capture the early ideas, pure concepts, and architectural ambition that shaped our resort.

14 Arquitectos: The Beginning of a Vision

Following the presentation at CCB, a multi-day exhibition showcased the architectural models for Phase One. Fourteen renowned Portuguese architects were invited to imagine a contemporary architectural resort.

A catalog titled “14 Arquitectos: Projectos do Bom Sucesso Resort” was published—officially the first printed publication about Bom Sucesso.

(You can download the catalog here.)

A Long Journey

At the time, the project’s promoter explained that it had taken 12 years to obtain all legal approvals. Bom Sucesso was presented as “the largest exhibition of contemporary architecture”—and in many ways, this remains true.

Not all promises were fulfilled. Back then, they said the resort would become “the top reference in Europe for luxury real estate developments” and that everything would be completed within five years.

Twenty-one years later, we’re still ~150 Villas empty plots waiting for the project to be fully finished.

You can read the 21-year-old Público article about the project’s launch (in Portuguese). It’s a fascinating look back at how it all started.

Bar Code 1” Townhouses, Lot 152 Bom Sucesso Resort by Nuno Graça Moura

Casa O Villas, Lot 127 Bom Sucesso Resort-by Atelier dos-Remedios

Townhouses and Villas, Lot 143 Bom Sucesso Resort by Manuel Aires Mateus

Phase 1 Red Houses Bom Suceso Resort by Atelier dos-Remedios and Luís Pessanha Moreira

Phase 1 Villas Bom Suceso Resort by Eduardo Souto de Moura and Nuno Graça Moura

Phase 1 Bom Suceso Resort Red Villas by Carrilho da Graça

Villas Phase 1 Lot 1 Bom Sucesso Resort by Álvaro Siza Vieira

Phase 1 Lot Bom Sucesoo Resort by Alcino Soutinho