Monte do Galo

Direct

• Contribution to the decarbonisation of the economy: with an estimated production of 13,8 MWh of clean energy per year, the 25 photovoltaic panels will avoid the emission of 2,8 tonnes of CO2 per year, which is the equivalent to the CO2 absorption of 127 trees.
• Raising the awareness of employees and guests to sustainable issues in the local community.

Indirect

• Vernacular and ecological construction: the building is built with adobe (taipa), and used non-toxic and non-polluting materials and resources from the surrounding environment (clay, shale, straw and lime). The floor of the house is made of shale, a locally-available material. The house plastering is made of lime and the inner walls and ceiling are made of wood, corrk and tadelakt. This low-impact construction guarantees great acoustic and thermal comfort.
• Contribution to conscious and efficient water consumption: as there is no connection to the public water network (off-the-grid), the water consumption takes place through existing water (rain, spring and well) and will be suited to the capacity of the water system. Part of this water will be reused for plant watering.
• Natural regeneration: the promoter is currently implementing a 12 hectare reflorestation project through which they will replace existing eucalyptuses with autochtone forest adapted to the environment (cork-oak and arbutus). The project also includes the implementation of an orchard with native trees (figs and orange trees).
• Promotion of conscious consumption: the household equipment will be highly efficient, consuming low amounts of energy. Only consumables (comestics and detergents) which have an environment-friendly certification and are biodegradable and involve zero-waste will be used. Food will be organic and local. Mattresses, sheets and towels are all of natural sources.
• Promotion of waste treatment: the promoter will always aim at producing the lowest amount of waste. The residues produced shall be recovered through local composting of the organic matter and recycling of other materials.
• Creation of new employment: the project aims to create a permanent position along with two temporary positions.
• The clients’ commutes will be compensated by the natural regeneration project.
• Promotion of local development: The project has in its heart the exploitation of local culture and tradition through the vernacular architecture, construction methods, decoration objects (which promote to the highest extent the local culture and tradition, through objects such as the Monchique bench and tapestries of Monsaraz), and the food supply chain. Partnerships will also be undertaken with local authorities such as restaurants, and nature and leasure activities.

In 2014, having fallen in love with the location as soon as they saw it, João and Joana decided to create Monte do Galo. The idyllical scenario captured their attention as they idealized a project which would increase the value of the land, where cork-oaks and arbutuses are crossed through by the stream that leads Monchique’s water to Aljezur. 

In 2017 they founded Funkybio, a biological supermarket in Porto tas was sold in 2019. Since then, they have been devoted to Monte do Galo, which seven years later will finally be up and running.

Both believe that the vernacular architecture set in this environmental and social context, which respects the cultural traditions, is part of the concept of sustainability.

João is a graduate in engineering and industrial management, and mastered in innovation and technology entrepreneurship. He worked for more than 10 years as an industrial engineer on constant improvement projects and as Director of Operations. He is currently dedicated to both Monte do Galo and sustainble consulting at the company he founded in 2019, HumbConsulting.  

Joana is a graduate in international relations and a postgraduate in NGO management, having always lived between the non-profit sector, in project management, volunteering and activismo; and the profit sector, in administration, operational management and institutional representation. In 2019, Joana founded Retiros da Lua - a women’s health education and healthy lifestyles project. 

They started the project in 2014 not only because of the emotional link to the site, but also because of the great potential they saw there. At the time, the land’s selling price was low and in addition to this, Aljezur is an unmissable tourism destination given its unique characteristics in Europe: climate, surf, wilf beaches, natural park and nature preservation. Between the architecture projects and the red tape, the recovery of the old ruin only started in 2018 and is being built in respect of the slow-pace algarvian rhythm.  

Monte do Galo will offer its guests a unique experience of conscious tourism, in total connection with nature, which combines ecology, with the high quality of their housing and services.