Immerso
Immerso calls for slow and relaxing times in harmony with the all-encompassing earthy tones and the natural textures that make it so unique. Feel, pause, and breathe!
We stayed at the hotel with our baby boy and enjoyed being surrounded by a caring and understanding hotel staff. We never felt out of place with our little one although it is a five-star hotel with a strong focus on design and most of the hotel guests had no children. If you have children but also love design, we absolutely recommend to stay there for two nights. But keep in mind that the hotel focuses strongly on being a place of peace and relaxation, so it might not be appreciated by other hotel guests if your children take over the pool area with water bombs :) When talking to the hotel manager, we felt that they truly want to welcome families too. They believe in an inclusive hotel concept and are working on a children friendly space that embraces nature and invites the little ones to discover it. I wonder how they will implement it and would love to come back with our son when he’s a bit older.
Immerso is set on bringing something ground-breaking to life. Nestled in a valley, it combines four distinct accommodation areas, all swathed by the surrounding greenery, keeping nature centre-stage. Service is thorough yet laidback, as if we were stepping into a peaceful refuge where we feel safe and everything’s in its right place. Immerso will allow you to enjoy the beautiful Ericeira landscape and sink into its elements, serenely and with peace of mind, less than an hour from Lisbon.
THE HOTEL
The Portuguese architect Tiago Silva Dias was in charge of the project, which was designed following the “spirit of the place”. By pairing natural values and construction by integrating and framing the buildings into nature, Immerso adheres to the principles of environmental sustainability in line with the local climate conditions.
Immerse aims to be a luxury retreat that fits into its natural surroundings. His architecture is inspired by the principles of southern Iberian design: multiple buildings halfway up the hill and state-of-the-art buildings on top. The appeal to the senses offered by the views over the valley and the ocean is experienced both inside and out through elements that emphasise the relationship with the expansive scenery. A good example is a sort of curved shape used in different areas of the hotel, such as the restaurant’s veranda or the ceiling in the rooms, which evoke the silhouette of the nearby waves. Divided into four blocks that emerge from the valley’s elevations, Immerso is surrounded by vegetation. The pool is stunningly set on top of one of the blocks right next to the bar, and the fire pit area is the perfect setting to discover new flavours and memorable fragrances.
Natural materials were chosen and modelled into organic shapes, resulting in quiet spaces with a soft light. The warm atmosphere sooths you soul and mind. The colours, however, are unique to details, leaving room for a neutral base of sandy tones, suggesting hues prompted by nature in its purest form, with hints of terracotta. The sunset pouring over the ocean and the shadows created by the movement of waves were a powerful inspiration to the interior concept. The interior design and overall architecture are in a beautiful dialog. The interior details as the cotton thread and rope used on the lighting fixtures, the plaster sculptures that give form and volume to the walls, and the carpets braided with cork and recycled materials, bring inside what usually stays outside, contributing to the uniqueness of Immerso.
Tiago Silva Dias was also in charge of the interiors along with Alexandra Almeida d’Eça — one of the hotel’s founders, who also was responsible for selecting the different artisans that were an integral part of the concept — and the designer Bárbara Neto, from LemonVariance. Unique spaces were created with nature in mind and textures from the land and the sea. The founders’ touch can be found throughout the project, from travelling to hotels and decoration, giving it a more contemporary and distinctive character. Each space has its own unique features, forming a sequence of different “moments” that are graceful in their articulation, allowing for an ever-changing perspective between the guests and the exterior.
The colours and textures, as well as more refined elements, substantiate a synthesis between the natural context and the contemporary feel through a restricted range of materials: bare concrete, surfaces painted with a colour palette suggested by mineral elements, wood and iron.
THE ARTISANS
Every space features pieces from contemporary artists, primarily Portuguese, such as the panels produced by Iva Viana for the lobby and the rooms, the artisanal rugs made from scraps of organic wool and cotton by Susana Godinho’s SUGO CORK RUGS, and the lamps and rocking chairs by Diana Cunha’s Oficina 166. Combining these pieces with other decorative elements turned out to be a tremendous challenge for the owner, who also selected pieces from the Mexican interior design Diego Franco, tapestries from Laurence Leenaert’s LRNCE, a mirror produced by Anna Westerlund, and a mandala from Palmas Douradas, a Portuguese brand by Maria João Gomes.
Elvis Veiguinha was in charge of producing a sound identity for the hotel. Unique spaces demand their own sounds; therefore, each area evokes a distinctive ambience without disturbing the quietness and the peace of mind that have existed since the beginning. A further detail that catched our attention were the scent. We loved it!
WELL BEING
One of the highlights of our stay was (for me) my spa treatment. Carrying a child every day puts strain on the whole body, especially the back. So, while Mike looked after our baby boy I had some me-time and enjoyed a soothing hot stone massage with hot volcanic stones. Furthermore, the spa at Immerso offers a sauna, steam bath, sensory bath and three treatment rooms with several treatments in partnership with the premium, organic and natural skincare brand, Vinoble Cosmetics. In addition to a gym and specific areas of the property for yoga or outdoor sports, guests are invited to explore the surroundings through hiking or bicycle riding, which are made available by the hotel.
Immerso’s food and beverage spaces stem from its conscious, local, and natural philosophy, accomplishing an ever-changing, organic cuisine teeming with character.
Alexandre Silva is the consultant chef for this project. Awarded with a Michelin star at LOCO restaurant, in Lisbon, the chef brings an Atlantic-based cuisine to Emme based on what the ocean provides, such as the fish from Berlenga and Ericeira and the saline-tasting plants of those areas. The textures, the aromas, the products, and the inspiration drawn from the western coastline are brought here by the technique and expertise of one of the most award-winning Portuguese chefs, now in Ericeira. At his side, resident chef Paulo Pedro (former Fortaleza do Guincho) is also immersed in the region’s most inspiring features, always looking for new things and focusing on making the hotel’s epicurean experience an exceptional moment.
Breakfast was delicious and offers everything one can desire.
More information: immerso.pt
Pictures by Francisco Nogueira