Category: Must Read

Designing unique homes, cinemas and garages inspired by Hollywood blockbusters and attracting film productions to Portugal make up the core business at Spy Manor Productions.

It all begins with an unfinished house with an incredible ocean view, near Ferragudo. Vanda Everke did not hesitate to design it, although her purpose went beyond looking at the sea from her window. A massive fan of the infamous James Bond, created by Ian Fleming, she wanted to develop something unique that honoured the spy’s cinematic universe and its connection with British car brand Aston Martin.

“We want to welcome film industry professionals here, for both film or advertising productions. We also want to host top VIP guests looking for an inspiring, sophisticated place with plenty of privacy,” explains the German native, founder of Spy Manor Productions. In the lobby, the sculpture of a deer evokes a scene from the film Skyfall and shows that this is a property like no other. Each of the seven guest rooms is named after an Aston Martin car and has an independent sound system, which can be configured to visitors’ tastes. The décor is contemporary: “We wanted to keep the design simple and modern, so that people can just enjoy the decoration everyday,” Vanda says.

In the living room, it is hard to know where to look — towards the sea and the horizon or to the prototype of the Aston Martin Valkyrie car. Displayed like an artwork, this hypersport is the original model (without engine) that was first presented at the British brand’s headquarters in Gaydon in 2016. Since then, it has been showcased in 52 countries, including the Etihad Towers, in Abu Dhabi; at the Paris International Automobile Festival, in France; and at Toronto’s International Autoshow, to name just a few. But there is more to come. A bespoke garage to display some of the movie cars is under construction. Next year, there will be a waterfall in the garden, ideal for photos or shooting scenes.

“These properties are really special and unique, they cannot be copied. We are creating a new one called Sky Base One, whose architecture is inspired by the Star Wars saga. The house is shaped like the Millennium Falcon spaceship,” Vanda reveals. The project is in the hands of John Wilson, from Bespoke architecture studio, in Carvoeiro. “We also plan to build a house inspired by the film Top Gun, which resembles an aircraft carrier. There will even be an aircraft in front of the house, displayed as an art piece.” It will be set on a 50,000 square-metre plot in the Algarve, with a wide view towards the sea. “In fact, all these films will inspire a house in Portugal. If possible in the Algarve, or in other locations.”

Vanda believes that there is a niche market for these houses inspired by Hollywood’s great blockbusters. “The proof of that is that every time we present these projects, there are more and more people interested. We are also in talks with several production companies about the possibility of designing and building a house from scratch just to host the shooting of a big film, here in Portugal. After the premiere, it could be sold” — perhaps to a fan.

The basic criterion for each project is always a premium location with good views and accessibility. “This is a great country. We especially like the people, who are friendly and welcoming. The language isn’t a problem, since most Portuguese speak English. We feel they are always willing to help and that gives us a great feeling” of confidence and security. “On the other hand, Spy Manor is creating a platform of the best local companies in the areas of construction, architecture and design, interior, smart home, garden landscaping, home cinema and garage builders to bring our movie-inspired projects to life. We continuously welcome new talents and great craftsmanship to join this network and initiative.”

Vanda Everke has a background in the semiconductor business, has worked for Intel, and has dedicated herself to sales, marketing and distribution. All the know-how she acquired, now goes into the service of Spy Manor Productions. The company provides consulting services so that foreign producers can take advantage of the tax incentives provided by the Portuguese government, until at least 2021. “Looking at the context of COVID-19, we know that there are producers who are looking for safe places to film their projects. There are countries still under quarantine and there are a lot of restrictions in place. There is also a massive lack of space, especially for studios”, which cannot meet the demand.

“I believe that Portugal, even in this complicated reality, has enormous potential. The government has managed this crisis very well. On the other hand, because of the confinement, people spent more and more time at home, which increased the demand for new content. In fact, it’s still growing,” she states. “I think producers won’t have any major concerns in carrying out their work here. These are the arguments we are putting forward to the industry at the moment.” The streaming revolution and platforms such as Netflix are also driving the audio-visual market — the entrepreneur says it is facilitating dialogue between different entities interested in building studios in Portugal.

Another work in progress is the opening of a gourmet restaurant named Skyblade, in the Algarve. “It will be a full experience. Our idea is to bring here people from all over the world who are otherwise hard to reach. Imagine one day having dinner with the world’s finest architects, artists, celebrities and film directors. We want to create a highly exclusive network and have new ideas come to light at the table,” Vanda reveals. “New companies, projects to leverage the country, investments; everything in one place. We want to launch this idea in Portugal and perhaps, from here, open a worldwide franchise” for the concept.

The legendary secret agent’s influence will not be forgotten either, naturally: “Our ultimate vision is to have tables placed on platforms that can descend one level, to an underground suite, with perfect smoothness and tranquillity whilst still seated, so that guests can do business in private. Once they’re finished, the table will rise back to the main room, just in time for dessert.”

The heart of Vanda Everke’s Spy Manor Productions headquarters is a high-quality home cinema, which can be used by producers who come to work with Spy Manor Productions to make exclusive presentations of their projects. Equipped with an 11.8.6 Dolby Atmos system, it also has a unique patented platform, which expands the seating from 7 to 11 seats, with extra leather armchairs coming up from the ground to host additional film guests. For now, it has a library with 50 popular blockbusters, original files with maximum quality, on the server.

Text Bruno Filipe Pires

Inside explores the glorious secret caves and beaches around Ferragudo

Ferragudo is one of the most charming villages in the Algarve and home to local tour company Zip&Trip. Founded by Inês Nunes, a marine biologist, and Pedro Oliveira, a nature guide, they take small groups on walking, sightseeing, foodie and snorkelling trips around the picturesque fishing village and surrounding coast.

As I know Ferragudo pretty well, I opted for the snorkelling, secret caves and beaches tour and met the couple by the square to join the rest of our group. It is at this point that I should probably mention that I am not a fan of cold water, am nervous in the sea and have rhinitis, so I was slightly anxious. With the group in place, we squeezed into our wetsuits and headed off towards our starting point near praia do Vau beach. Once we arrived at our destination, Inês began to reveal a little more about what we could expect: “The way to get there couldn’t be better, just follow us!” We climbed down to the beach to begin our initiation, where Inês taught us how to snorkel and float easily and be comfortable in our wetsuits. Side by side, we swam above the most beautiful underwater gardens, looking for colourful starfish that are common in this area but mostly finding sardines, mackerel and seahorses.

Inês was so calming and took extra time with me to make sure I was getting the most of the trip. When I mentioned that I was nervous, she told me that they take out children as young as four years old, which put me at ease. Pedro leads the group, with the couple guiding and continuously checking that everyone was in place and happy, as we continued our tour of the wonderful Algarve coast. “The caves that I’m about to show you are unique and unspoilt because only a few locals know about them,” Pedro explained. “I’ve visited many times, and whenever I enter, it feels like I’m going into a huge cathedral with the sun shining through the window. There’s only the noise of the ocean and us.”

We navigated our way through some tiny entrances where a glorious utopia of limestone caves and natural blowholes have created some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Some of the isolated beaches and rock formations were reminiscent of the area around Koh Phi Phi in Thailand, and the water clarity was perfect on the day that I went out. I was honestly taken aback. Having done many coastal boat trips, kayaking trips and stand up paddle in the area, the perspective from water level with the aid of the snorkel is, in my opinion, the best view of them all. With the added bonus of being able to swim under some low rocks and enter truly private paradise beaches, it was a magical experience. We continued exploring for an hour or so more before heading back to the beach, where Pedro and Inês laid out a very welcome picnic of local fruits and cheeses to relax and replenish our energy levels.The snorkelling trip was excellent and professionally carried out by this passionate couple who have their groups wellness and the sustainability of their fabulous natural environment in mind throughout. I went in July, but the water temperature in the Algarve is generally warmer in September/October, so this is the perfect time to go and with fewer visitors around, I’m sure that the experience will be even more special.

Other tours available are the Sunset Walk & Food Tasting in Ferragudo where they show you some fantastic hidden spots while getting to know all about the village’s history, experiencing the culture, cobbled streets, unique artwork, ancient buildings and meeting some local friends with lots of stories to tell. Then it’s onto the tasting part where they take you to some typical locales where you will eat delicious local food, drink regional wine, spirits and a homemade dessert. There’s also the walking tour that includes Benagil cave, Marinha beach, stunning cliffs and breathtaking views with plenty of opportunities to take some snaps and enjoy the landscape.All tours last around three hours and have a minimum of two, maximum of seven participants if you wish to use their included transfer service. Larger groups can be accommodated on request. With prices ranging from €35 to €55 per person, these unique tours will give you something to write home about and memories to last a lifetime.

“We walk through beaches and forests, swim to visit caves and observe the underwater life. We aim to organise experiences that promote the wellbeing of the people who come with us, interfering as little as possible with the surrounding environment,” the couple said. “Trust us; you’ll have one of the most magical experiences of your life. And we will continue searching for less known places, where nature is in its wildest state, places where we feel good.”

Text Mia Wallace

Bespoke architecture, where dreams come true

At the age of four, a young John Wilson came to live in Portugal with his Scottish father and Portuguese mother. He fit in immediately and adored the freedom and lifestyle here. Now, 40 years on, we meet with the local Architect and owner of Bespoke to find out a bit more about him and his practice.

In a bright, open-plan office at the end of Rua do Barranco, you’ll find a young team of architects busily working on their projects under John’s guidance. Having studied in London and attaining his degree in his early 20s, he is passionate about his chosen path and keen to show the ropes to his team. His formative years as a young architect were rather intense when he was head architect for the Oceânico group. This position was somewhat a baptism of fire as it was in the period that the group were designing Amendoeira & Belmar Spa. John worked closely with the team creating the Faldo and O’Connor courses, liaising with everyone involved from marketing, construction and even sales. All this whilst completing his Master’s degree, so as you can imagine, he was more than ready when he began to put plans in action to open his own business. In 2011, John opened his doors to the public, and within one year he had employed his first full-time architect.

With his portfolio steadily growing and word getting around, it wasn’t long before the office was full of young, eager talent who all brought with them their own creativity and unique styles to complement each other. Now with a team of six full-time architects, a group of engineers, civil engineers and landscape architects, Bespoke is taking on some inspiring projects. “We fully understand that we are often creating clients dream homes and always take their vision on-board when preparing our designs” says John. “We’ve implemented a wonderful programme that allows us to visualise the projects in 3D, so the clients get a real feel for every angle and aspect.” Exciting new technology and keeping up to date with sustainable trends are paramount to the company’s development. The portfolio is incredible, and they are repeatedly approached by clients with out-of-this-world ideas. Unlike many studios, Bespoke doesn’t have a particular style; what they have is the ability to sit with their clients and listen, visualising what they want but also what they need. “Our current portfolio is diverse, no one wants the same thing. We’ve got some ultra-contemporary homes, traditional classic Algarve style villas and holiday complexes and everything in between,” John explains. “What every project does have in common, though, is that when we are in the planning stages, we always apply functionality and take the sun orientation into account.”

That’s why it’s essential to sit with an architect who listens but also has experience in their field. They need to be able to guide you to the best possible solution of your vision. Many people really want to be part of the process, and Bespoke welcomes that. It’s crucial to create their vision whilst being satisfied that everything has been done to a high standard and adhering to building regulations. “We can’t forget what the purpose of a building is. It must be comfortable, accessible and functional,” John says. “The windows have to be in the right position to maximise the location while ensuring privacy. We try to place the bedrooms in a south-facing direction wherever possible to utilise natural heating and light. Sustainability is a given, we have so much technology available to us now that it should always be applied.”

John and his team are professional, innovative, hard-working, ethical and humble yet with drive and ambition. Bespoke means tailor-made, and that’s precisely what they do. As a parting comment, John told us: “Part of the ethos of our company is to provide a truly tailor-made solution, a bespoke service. So we seek to incorporate design features that go beyond conventional architectural vocabulary, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. We are a conscientious, professional and flexible team, capable of building the dreams of clients whilst working in harmony with the natural environment. Each project undertaken by Bespoke includes a detailed brief and budget, which is agreed by the client and set out at the design stage of the project.”

Finding the right people to do a job is hard enough in your native country and language let alone when you’re in the Algarve. Being fully bilingual and an honorary Portuguese, John is a family man from Carvoeiro, who goes beyond job title and puts himself into everything he does. His support for the local football team, Carvoeiro United, is just another testament to the man behind the company.

Bespoke Architects

A gourmet ice-cream brand sold exclusively in the Algarve makes use of a Portugues staple: Medronho

Born in Italy, Roberto Balzer moved to the Algarve 30 years ago with the idea of creating his own brand: La Dolce Vita. He started with pizza and pasta restaurants, in 1987, and in 2014, his dream of making artisanal ice cream using his own recipes finally came to life.

Located in Praia da Rocha, Portimão, the frozen treats factory can ship out up to 800 litres of ice cream every day to wellknown hotels and restaurants throughout the region, such as Vila Vita Parc, in Porches. “I always dreamed of selling my own artisanal ice cream. I took a course with the third-best ice cream maker in the world, in Italy, and started developing my recipes for a few clients, family and friends. But the number of orders started growing and the business followed suit,” Roberto recalls.

So what makes the brand so successful? “This ice cream is made with carefully selected produce and high-quality, raw materials. We have fruit from the Vicentine Coast and the Algarve, such as Silves oranges and lemons. The pistachio we use comes from Bronte, in Sicily, which is the world capital of this fruit. We use milk from that same day, the cream is fresh and both are national. We also have Madagascar vanilla and cacao from Ecuador,” he explains. “In addition to that, we make the orders on the spot and don’t add any flavouring, artificial colouring, genetically modified organisms, vegetable fats or preservatives. The recipe is 100% natural. I believe the key to success comes from the marriage between raw materials, the recipe, dedication, experience and freshness.”

Every day, from morning to night, through winter and summer, the factory puts together several orders of countless flavours. Traditional fruit sorbets are joined by recipes with different chocolates, gourmet tastings and even several alcoholic drinks. For this year, the ice cream maker has already decided the standout flavour — medronho, a traditional Algarve firewater made from the fruit of the strawberry tree. “I am the only one making this ice cream, that I know of. We are talking about a difficult recipe, because alcohol is an antifreeze agent. I had to a lot of perfecting and experimenting to achieve the result I wanted. The whole process took over a month,” Roberto reveals. The ice cream pairs wonderfully “with typical, regional desserts with figs, almond and carob. It is a good allusion to the Algarve, which can attract many connoisseurs and shows the best produce we have here”, he adds.

There are still recipes to be perfected and tested, but there is no shortage of peculiar flavours on the list: goat’s cheese; honey and rosemary; pastel de nata (traditional Portuguese egg-custard tart), complete with puff pastry and cinnamon; dark chocolate and ginger; and even Aperol Spritz, an alcoholic aperitif that complements an Italian drink with sparkling wine. Another unique and innovative variety in Portugal, according to Roberto, is the bread ice cream. All flavours are characterised by their rich creaminess and freshly made confection.

There is no limit for the Italian’s imagination, with all recipes are created and catered to a customer s specific tastes. “Since I make the ice cream to order, I can create very specific flavours which people request for special occasions. I have made ice cream with chorizo, mushrooms, tomato and all kinds of beer,” Roberto says. Even with hundreds of varieties, his favourite is still Bronte pistachio — a flavour that holds the PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) certificate, which confirms the place of production for this nut.

“Over the last decade, the Portuguese have started to recognise good ice cream, and when you try a good product, you can tell the difference immediately,” says the ice-cream maker, who grew up in a family also established in the culinary world. “I already have a lot of Portuguese ordering tubs to take home. It’s a growing audience,” he says. Still, there is no comparison with the biggest consumers — the Germans or “the Italians, who prefer to buy tubs instead of ice cream on a stick. When they go to someone’s house for dinner, Italians don’t bring a bottle of wine like the Portuguese, but rather a tub of ice cream”.

Roberto has a piece of advice for true ice cream lovers: “The worldwide trick to know whether there’s a good-quality product is to try the chocolate or pistachio flavours.” With retirement already in sight and the Italian award certifying the quality of his ice cream, he has just one more aspiration: “That one of my children continues with the business.”

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