MS Collection Mosteiro de Arouca

The corridors of the former Monastery of Santa Maria de Arouca still lead to rooms along their original routes. Now used by hotel guests, the former cells retain their subdivisions with limited structural alteration. Stone door surrounds and dark timber ceilings remain visible in the passages; pale timber floors and restrained furnishings occupy the bedrooms.

MiMool Arquitectura & Interiores completed the conversion of the monastery’s south wing in 2025 for MS Collection Mosteiro de Arouca. Developed through Portugal’s REVIVE programme, the project extends beyond the main wing to former service buildings and the grounds.

Reception and shared sitting areas occupy the ground-floor arcades. Low upholstered furniture leaves views open beneath the white vaults, and a dark stone bar stands among exposed masonry columns. Lighting close to the stone picks out its joints and uneven surfaces. Narrow pebble beds surround the bases of several columns.

The ruined infirmary required a different intervention. A new spa volume rises above a glazed base that exposes the historic foundations and admits views of the grounds. Dark vertical cladding encloses its upper part. Inside, a broad curved ceiling covers the pool, with low glazing along the edges.

Other former working buildings retain their place within the garden. The apothecary now holds lounges connected to the restored orchard and productive garden; an agricultural outbuilding serves as a poolside bar. At the eastern boundary, a new building accommodates operational spaces and facilities including a gym and conference rooms. Parts are set below ground beneath a landscaped roof to reduce their presence beside the monastery.

Paths connect these buildings through grounds where water tanks, fountains and archaeological traces remain visible. The outdoor pool sits near the Silvares stream, reached along routes of stone paving and restored masonry.