Silent Living - A unique concept of presence, peace and tranquility
A refuge for travelers seeking a home away from home. An invitation to silence, peace, and tranquility. This is the Silent Living concept, born from João Rodrigues' desire to share his lifestyle and let others experience it. Each house in this project was once a family residence. Today, each one holds the memory of family happiness, our ancestors' connections with the land, and the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Each one is a meeting place for friends, family, and travelers.
The sense of profound silence experienced in each Silent Living space invites deep reflection, inner serenity, and a peace that allows for a closer connection with the environment and others. In a Silent Living space, guests can stop, breathe, slow down, and fully experience the moment, away from the frenetic pace of everyday life.
Five houses and a farm, in different locations, make up this project, each reflecting the environment and local community, valuing culture, tradition, and gastronomy. Simplicity, sustainability, and the space as a refuge invite immersion in a truly regenerative experience.
Located in Alto Alentejo, Herdade no Tempo is a perfect place to contemplate the present. With vibrant vegetation supporting a diverse range of wildlife and animals, here you can experience the vastness of nature and the raw beauty of the region. With holistic management, an approach developed by biologist Allan Savory to restore pasture soils and minimize the negative effects of climate change, Herdade no Tempo also applies the Silent Living concept through the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, aiming to reverse ecological degradation. The estate is part of the Portuguese Montado, a complex agroforestry system that depends on a dynamic network of activities such as agriculture and pasture but also provides cork, livestock, cereals, grains, fruits, and vegetables, used to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. Here, in addition to the forest, there are herd animals and a vegetable garden brimming with Mediterranean splendor. From the seeds planted, foods such as vegetables, wheat, olives and meats grow, which feed the guests of Casa no Tempo, perfectly integrated into the landscape, as well as other spaces within the project.
"Located in Alto Alentejo, Herdade no Tempo is the perfect place to contemplate the present."
If you dine at Ceia or Solo, both Silent Living restaurants, you'll not only enjoy a truly sensory experience but also witness the reflection of this regenerative agriculture. Both are part of Santa Clara 1728, located in the cultural Alfama neighborhood. It's also the home of João Rodrigues and his family, who reinvented classic notions of hospitality and restored an old Lisbon building, transforming it into their family home and graciously opening its doors to guests.
In addition to integrating with the surrounding nature and the silence, both exterior and interior, all the houses that integrate the Silent Living concept feature minimalist architecture, emphasizing that the important things in life are in the simple things. In Comporta, near the sea and the river, we find the Sand Houses and River Cabins. An idyllic setting for observing over a hundred bird species, the Sand Houses are distinguished by the way the existing sand has been used as a balancing element, becoming a unifying element between the interior and exterior and intensifying contact with nature. Meanwhile, the River Cabins, formerly two old huts used by local fishermen, have become a family retreat. Both blend seamlessly into a landscape of rivers, tides, and sun-baked wood.
Casa na Terra, in Monsaraz, is the most recent project, expressing its connection with the waters of the Alqueva River. Born of friendship and love for the land, it aligns with all the values of Silent Living: a deep respect for nature, family, connection to place, and exquisite, elemental construction. Expanding on the idea of slowing down, living in the moment, and appreciating the landscape from a unique perspective, the Silent Living project also features the Santa Fé, a restored boat that offers cruises along the Tagus River and as far as Cascais.
«Casa na Terra, in Monsaraz, is the most recent project, which is expressed in its connection with the water of the Alqueva.»
At all Silent Living properties, guests are welcomed like old friends. Silence goes beyond the simple absence of noise; it signifies reconnection with the self, with nature, and with others. The Silent Living experience is a reconnection with oneself and with life.
«In the Silent Living experience there is a reunion, with oneself and with life.»
Text: Carla Martins
Photos: All Rights Reserved