The long-running saga over a development near Querença may be nearing the end as Loulé finally has approved the €10 million ‘Casas da Benémola’ project in Querença.
The mayor of Loulé, Victor Aleixo, and the chief executive of the Arto Carpus Castle Foundation, Kristiina Lappi, today signed the contract formalising the project.
Permission has been granted for a rural hotel and a research centre to study the 'nature and culture' of the Algarve.
The development is located at Sítio da Barrada, where Querença, Tôr and Benafim parishes meet near Querença.
The 4-star luxury country hotel with 36 beds has an associated research centre whose "main scientific goal is the study and protection of Mediterranean ecosystems, characterised by a great biodiversity but strongly affected by human intervention as well as by frequent forest fires. The centre will also study and promote the cultural values of the Algarve Region."
This venture is near the controversial Quinta da Ombria, Hotel Spa & Golf Resort, that recently has been started.
The Arto Carpus Castle Foundation also wants to provide a meditation space "dedicated to all religions and philosophies."
The foundation, based in Finland, appointed Fernando Pessoa as architect responsible for the project.
Pessoa said last April that the complex has been designed as a research centre with laboratories and workrooms, a cultural section with local arts and crafts studios, and a non-tourist accommodation area to house researchers.
Pessoa explained that the many of the buildings will be set into the slope of the land with part of the structure below ground level, with green roofs. In the main research area no vehicles will be allowed near the buildings.
The goal is to cause the "least possible impact on the landscape and the environment," and renewable energy will be used throughout the complex and that this will be a "very quiet" place with a tower dedicated to meditation, added Pessoa.
The owner of the land, Arto Takala, spent years waiting for council approval for a larger tourist development but the Finn then decided to alter the project and apply for a non-for-profit research centre with accompanying luxury hotel.
As for who will be using the centre when completed, "There have been informal discussions with scientific and academic bodies, but these will not be announced until after the project is approved," explained Fernando Pessoa, who had expected the approval process to take three to four months in April 2014.
One year later the project was approved with no information as to why there has been a delay.
