“Mamiwata” Tourist Eco-Village

Santo Antão is the northernmost island of the Cabo Verde archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean about 500 km off the coast of Senegal. The dry climate, the winds from Saharan Africa, and the magnificent mountainous landscapes of this volcanic island together with the numerous trekking and outdoor activities to explore its exquisite natural beauty make it – and all the islands of the archipelago – a favorite international tourist destination. In fact, given their scant resources and insufficient arable land, unable to produce enough food for the resident population, tourism is the islands’ major source of income.

Designed by architects Eloisa Ramos and Moreno Castellano, who are based in Mindelo on the island of São Vicente, the new build on Santo Antão is more than yet another series of tourist homes. From the outset, they were determined to adopt a different approach to occupying further surface areas for human habitation. Sensitivity to the natural landscape was an underlying concern. The project seeks not to impose and “colonize” the area on which it stands, destroying the natural equilibrium, but rather strives to respect both the natural environment and local communities and culture, encouraging mutually beneficial relations between the resident population and the temporary occupants of the new dwelling units.

Since the island of Santo Antão suffers from a chronic shortage of both arable land and water, the architects set aside a portion of the plot for agricultural use and created basins collecting water for irrigation. Given the steeply sloping terrain purchased by the client (a German tourist agency), great care was needed to respect the contour lines, preserving the original lay of the land. The various units were placed accordingly, angled so as to protect occupants from the prevailing winds while at the same time offering sweeping views over the land- and seascape. In addition,...

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