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BRAND
Silent Living
FOUNDER
João Rodrigues
PHOTOGRAPHY
Silent Living
EDITOR
Bingyi
Collection

"Silent Living" is an expanding boutique hotel group in Portugal founded by João Rodrigues, uniting five meticulously designed independent properties that perfectly encapsulate the finest elements of home-living experiences. Eschewing ostentation, it redefines luxury through a more modest and welcoming approach. 

These include: Casas Na Areia and Cabanas No Rio in Comporta, originally the family’s coastal weekend retreats; Casa No Tempo in Montemor-o-Novo, a farmstead inherited through João’s grandfather’s will; Casa na Terra in Monsaraz; and Santa Clara 1728 in Lisbon’s historic Santa Clara district, where João and his family reside on the building’s top floor.

Every house was originally a family home. They carry memories of domestic happiness, a connection to the land, and the enchanting natural landscapes that surround them. Each house also once served as a gathering place for friends, family, and travelers. Founder João Rodrigues wished to share all he possessed and allow others to experience it too. This philosophy is named "Silent Living"—a way of life that embodies the continual pursuit of happiness and fulfillment.

"Hospitality", the cornerstone of Silent Living, traces its roots to João’s childhood. His great-grandparents, entrepreneurs in a small village in northern Portugal, would open the ground floor of their home to any passerby, offering whatever assistance they could. In Portuguese culture—especially among older generations—when a guest visits for the first time, hosts traditionally guide them through the entire house like a tour d’hôte. 

The birth of Silent Living was entirely serendipitous, unplanned as if destined by fate—a fact some may find surprising. Over a decade ago, João Rodrigues sought to renovate a house nestled in the Comporta dunes—Casas na Areia—to create a private retreat for his family. For this endeavor, he reached out to his close friend and architect, Manuel Aires Mateus.

The design of Casas na Areia seamlessly blends architecture with nature, and local traditions with innovation, earning its selection as the residential project representing Portugal at the 12th Venice Architecture Biennale. This recognition brought widespread attention, with friends soon inquiring if they could spend weekends and holidays there. Before long, strangers began making similar requests, and many forged new friendships through this little house. When João and his family found themselves using the property less frequently than anticipated, they began offering it for rent—marking the serendipitous beginnings of Silent Living.

Why choose the Silent Living brand over other traditional chain hotels? What unique experiences can be had here? These are common questions for those still deciding on their accommodation, and they are also the starting point and core philosophy of João Rodrigues, the founder of the brand:Silent Living.All the properties were originally homes of the Rodrigues family, each a part of the family's story, embodying the feeling and importance of home. Now, they are open to all who wish to experience them.Thus, the experience offered by Silent Living differs from that of traditional hotels because it was never intended to be a hotel. In each property, they treat every guest like an old friend, not just a passerby.

From two humble fishermen’s cabins along the Sado River to Monsaraz’s ultra-modern architectural masterpiece, Silent Living manifests in many forms. At its core lies a belief: by paring back surfaces and excess, guests settle effortlessly into stillness.But this philosophy extends beyond retreat—it is also about giving back: to family, to nature. For true beauty emerges from essence, not ornament. To live intimately with nature is to embrace life’s fragility and rawness, its joy and ease, and yes—its perfect imperfections.

Among them, Casa no Tempo is nestled in the Montado forests of Alentejo, where vast expanses of land are teeming with lush vegetation, nurturing diverse flora and fauna in their most pristine beauty. Here, Silent Living has carved out its own space,featuring the natural Herdade no Tempo farm, where they cultivate a bountiful Mediterranean-style garden. The team here not only continues to grow, nurture, and harvest high-quality ingredients but also works to restore the soil in the process. 

Not far from the house, you can see horses roaming freely in the fields, along with cows and goats. This is at the heart of João’s farming philosophy: allowing animals to follow their natural paths helps regenerate the land and produce more nutritious food. Nature has always been our guide, and planning life according to its rhythms helps maintain a balanced ecosystem.

From this fertile land, they gather all the herbs and vegetables, wheat for baking bread, olives for pressing oil, grapes for winemaking, as well as meat and milk for crafting cheese.These natural harvests are then shared with guests at Casa no Tempo, Santa Clara 1728, and Ceia restaurant, offering the purest flavors of the land.

In the urban retreat of Silent Living at Santa Clara 1728, there is a restaurant called Solo (meaning "soil" in Portuguese) that serves lunch. All the dishes are meticulously prepared using ingredients grown, cultivated, and harvested at the Herdade no Tempo estate.At Solo, the team is dedicated to crafting a lunch experience that emphasizes sustainability and creativity. The menu focuses on light and diverse vegetables, offering both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. The chef and team carefully prepare a 3-moment menu designed to nourish both body and mind.

Meanwhile, the Ceia restaurant specializes in a refined dining experience. "Ceia"—meaning "supper" in Portuguese—evokes feelings of warmth, tradition, and camaraderie. The ingredients also come from the Herdade no Tempo estate. In 2023, it embarked on a new chapter with chef Renato Bonfim and his team introducing a new menu themed "The Last Harvest," focusing on soil restoration and pressing global threats such as food scarcity, water shortages, and desertification. While savoring nature's bounty, guests are also invited to reflect on its changes and participate in a meaningful shift in consciousness.

Silent Living is the art of intentional choice—where each decision flows effortlessly into the next. It is the practice of slowing down to truly feel and connect, recognizing that this very act is life’s most precious offering.Only by taking this step to experience it can one truly immerse themselves in this different way of life.

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