White Hotel

The new interior design project by Daniela Franceschini has transformed WHITE into an even more beautiful, comfortab- le, and elegant setting — the perfect place to experience the splendour of São Miguel.

Leaning over the Atlantic Ocean, at WHITE, the colours of the sea blend with the horizon, creating the most magical scenery. Here, the exclusivity, the stillness and the sea breeze render the right dose of tranquillity for a truly relaxing vacation.

Everything happened somewhat by chance when Catarina and João Reis came across an old summer house during a hike, part of a wine production property on the southern coast of São Miguel. Passionate about creating unique places with spectacular views, they decided to build an exceptional hotel on the island while pre- serving the main architectural features of the ancient building.

Atop a volcanic cliff 15 meters above the sea, WHITE opened its doors in 2017, a pioneer project in the Azores that welcomed guests to the nine suites and a gorgeous villa. This boutique hotel focuses on a very exclusive and tailor-made service, a unique trait in the archipelago.

Drawing in guests from all over the world, WHITE quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Now, nearly five years after its first ope- ning, the hotel makes an extraordinary comeback after a few mon- ths of renovations — even more beautiful, comfortable, and elegant.

THE AZORES AS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

The renovation project was led by the Spanish interior designer Daniela Franceschini, the creative director at Quiet Studios, who chose to emphasise WHITE’s most relevant qualities: the location by the sea and how it connects with the horizon (the sunrise and sunset are breath-taking); the intimate atmosphere, the calmness and well-being feeling, and the quality of the service (always tai- lor-made), as well as the food (one of SINGULAR PROPERTIES’ most significant projects).

Her primary source of inspiration? The island. “One of the most important things for a hotel such as this one is the feeling of place. Guests want to feel they’re in the Azores”, the designer explains, who thought out and worked to elevate the guest’s experience even more. And because the hotel is sitting on top of a basalt cliff, Da- niela Franceschini decided to harness this relationship, resorting to the tones of black of the volcanic rock in the entire project, which accentuates the white hues, “as there is no light without darkness or white without black”, she says.

THE SUITES AND THE VILLA

Drawn by the feeling of calmness and well-being, something that can be found in all of her projects, Daniela Franceschini developed a project for WHITE that is an eclectic blend of both old and new, with several pieces produced following traditional techniques. This is the case with the ceramics in the rooms and the common areas, as well as the furniture, which was designed specifically for the pro- ject and produced locally with cryptomeria, a tree that is cultivated in the Azores after being introduced there for wood production.

Crafted to provide a unique experience to the guests, WHITE offers only nine suites — with areas that range between 27 m2 and 42 m2 and fully equipped kitchenettes — and an exclusive villa. The Villa is the most reserved nook at the hotel, and also the largest and most exclusive of all accommodations, located right on top of the cliff and with its own wooden deck and jacuzzi facing the ocean.

Each room is unique and different from one another. The Junior Suites, which are located in the newest part of the building, and the Unique Suites are on the ground floor and have direct access to the outdoor spaces and the swimming pool. The Unique Suites were built where the manor house once stood, and many of the older ele- ments were preserved, such as the walls made of basalt stone, the stone arches that frame the ceiling of the old wine cellar, and the old kitchen’s fireplace. The first floor accommodates four Ocean Suites, which feature suspended balconies and reading windows overlooking the sea.

The unique character of WHITE is now even more well-defined. While respecting the history of the property and the values that make up the original project, “we cleaned what was of secondary importance to make the atmosphere more serene”, Daniela Fran- ceschini explains, having worked in the renovation in close dialo- gue with the owners. The result is more elegant and airy rooms with several small details — namely the rigorous selection of fabrics and a colour palette filled with warmer tones — which make them much more comfortable and closer to the local culture.

Some bathrooms feature glazed basalt tiles (created especially for WHITE); the majority of lamps were made with traditional Azorean basketry; and instead of micro cement, she went for Marmorino stucco in volcanic tones.

Ceramic coral pieces — also designed by Franceschini — decorate the walls. “They are part of the natural palette of the Azores. Once in a while, a coral reflects what happens in the Azorean landscape”, recreated here as colourful dots sprinkled on a green and black backdrop. Incidentally, João Reis reminds us that the former owner of the manor had a beautiful collection of corals, so this theme is somewhat retrieving an old memory and bringing it to life.

THE OUTDOOR SPACES AND THE CARDUME RESTAURANT

WHITE has several outdoor spaces, including different patios and levels, a fire pit and a heated saltwater infinity pool. Surrounded by the ocean, everything here was thought to create more areas to just relax, sunbathe or simply read a book in a more private area — such as the new sunroom with a hot tub, which can be exclusively booked.

The need to turn the exterior into a cosier setting that could be used regardless of the weather conditions was one of the main priorities. The old pergola was transformed into a lounge area, a lovely winter garden — which quickly became a guest favourite — where guests can have breakfast, lunch, a cocktail and even dinner.

The outdoor furniture followed a hands-on solution in terms of sus- tainability, a key concern for the group: sofas and sunbeds with wooden structures and cushions and pillows that make up a colou- rful add-on for a comfortable setting.

The renovation venture also covered the landscape work, which brought flora species that are more resistant to the salt and the clo- seness of the sea. Lastly, the infinity pool deserves praise, a crucial element of the hotel that was not left out of the project, featuring a black bottom as if we were swimming on a volcanic beach.

Inside, we can find a small lounge area with a fireplace and views over the Atlantic tempting us to chat the night away, and the CAR- DUME restaurant, a proper “lab of flavours”, with its kitchen led by the young but experienced chef William Blake. Here, nothing is left to chance. Everything has its own intensity of unspeakable flavours and fragrances: the best fish of the Atlantic, the best meat of the is- land’s green pastures, the fresh produce from the hotel’s farm, and a chef that takes these ingredients and turns them into the perfect blend of flavours and textures, presenting the guests with a truly unique experience.

At WHITE’s restaurant, one colour prevails over all others: the ta- bles, the shelves, the bar counter, the curtains, everything is pain- ted in white, except for the colourful pinches of ceramics. As it happens in the outdoor spaces, the lighting was also specifically projected accordingly. On the other hand, the reception features a 3-ton volcanic rock counter and an indoor garden that leads guests to the first floor parallel to an impressive stone wall — another re- miniscence of the former manor.

Last of all, a special note for the concierge service that was thought to make the guests’ stay on the island the best it could possibly be. These tailored experiences — created by Singular Properties — include a careful and demanding selection of the best partners for each activity, the best restaurants, and the most exciting places to visit, as well as custom-made guides.