The Restoration Palacio of Sustainability

Was it luck or fate that Palácio Príncipe Real ended up in the trusted hands of a duo dedicated to preserve its future? Let’s look at our favourite Lisbon hotel and its commitment to restoration via owners Miles and Gail Curley.

Built in 1887, this cor de rosa beaut in the Principe Real district of Lisbon was made of the good stuff, built to last and withstand Lisbon’s sometimes erratic weather. Thick stone walls meet marble flooring with wooden shuttered windows making up the core shell, a sustainability-minded structure that, even from the 19th century, stayed cool in summer and warm in winter. 

This solid template was fiercely guarded by Gail and Miles who ‘point-blank refused’ to remove any original walls or features. Their introduction to the palace was primarily a peeling back of overgrown shrubbery to reveal the noble palacio. Restoration was the order of the day through the revival of original features such as the impressive staircase carved in Morrish woodwork, the ceiling mouldings, swirls of ornate azulejos tiles, Portugues pine floors and hand-painted arabesque ceilings. Where ‘new’ was needed, the owners sourced locally, for example, the Portuguese “Lioz Rosa” pink stone.

Next was careful layering and thought into how to bring the hotel into modernity while protecting heritage and safeguarding for the future. Windows now have improved heat insulation and acoustic retention, as well as a restoration of the original wooden frames and brass handles. You can also enjoy opening the windows to fresh Atlantic Ocean breezes, giving the Palacio that at-home feel guests crave. Local woodworkers have crafted bespoke furniture and beds for the rooms, allowing them to be built specially to fit the size and shape of the original rooms. 

Outside, the Palacio’s large leafy garden gave Gail and Miles room to bring in some eco-technology. Solar panels, a heat recovery system, a ‘smart’ laundry and electric car chargers form the backbone of their innovation, with room to grow. The garden benefits from pesticide-free care and plenty of ancient trees for shade. Solely planting native and indigenous plants and shrubs means the garden doesn’t need excess watering and can withstand the hot Portuguese summer while grass grids in the parking area collect water naturally, and the terrace is made of permeable Portuguese calçada cobbles.

The garden is also the provider of fresh produce for the kitchen, an area that Gail feels strongly about. The menu at the hotel presents as health-forward, with well-sourced meat and traditional Lisboan dishes adding local flavour. You won’t find wasteful breakfast buffets here, rather a more refined a ‘a la carte’ start to the day; the hot climate of Portugal also allowing a range of seasonal fruit and veg. Coffee grains and food waste work their way back to the garden, and elsewhere in the hotel, you’ll find little plastic - any that you do is invested in a recycling program. 

Carbon offsetting is a big theme within hospitality, with many varied ways to reach for that net zero. Miles and Gail Curley have invested in a side-line close to their hearts, a venture that helps their carbon footprint as well as produces wonderful ecological extra virgin olive oil. Their sustainable farm has 75 acres of unwatered, traditionally farmed, chemical-free olive trees that have now been certified as ‘green producers of the Iberian Peninsula.

Meeting the sweet spot between 21st-century comfort, local Portuguese traditions and force-for-good architectural sustainability, Palácio Príncipe Real stands the test of time.