A new discreet luxury resort is taking shape on Portugal’s Alentejo coast. JNcQUOI is expanding from Lisbon to Comporta. Miguel Guedes de Sousa personally guided us through what the future holds.
Lisbon, 30°C. Comporta, also 30°C. But with a breeze that softens everything. Miguel Guedes de Sousa, co-founder and president of the Amorim Luxury Group, welcomed the international press — including ECO Avenida — to his estate in Comporta, offering a first look at what will become the group’s second hub: the JNcQUOI Club Comporta. The complex is expected to be completed within two years. Until then, the project’s defining trait remains discretion. The design of the 64 villas and pavilions, by Belgian architect Vincent Van Duysen, is intended to preserve the area’s natural integrity — a fusion of coastal charm and rustic serenity.
Cars are left behind in a 200-space car park at the entrance. Guests and members (treated equally during their stay) are transferred by black electric buggies — each villa comes with one or two. The journey begins in a designated nature reserve — which will remain untouched — and continues along sandy tracks, flanked by pine trees, dunes and dense vegetation that afford privacy without the need for fencing. Only electric vehicles are permitted on-site, both now and in future.
The short five-minute ride reveals subtle signposts indicating future developments: villas, a family swimming pool, a spa and athletic club, a racket club, and various pavilions scattered throughout the property. “Welcome to our sanctuary,” says Guedes de Sousa, addressing two dozen journalists from across Europe, Brazil, the United States, the Emirates and more — with ECO Avenida the only Portuguese outlet present. The first 24 homes, announced for early 2025, have already been sold at €13,500 per square metre. Offered as a unique turnkey concept with full interior design, they were acquired by Portuguese buyers, but especially by foreign residents in the country — many of whom are already members of JNcQUOI Avenida. As a result, a further 12 units have been added to this initial phase, now priced at €15,000 per square metre.
The clientele is mainly foreign residents in Portugal — many of whom are already JNcQUOI Avenida members — though Portuguese nationals are also among the buyers. Guedes de Sousa envisions a community in Comporta that mirrors the loyalty cultivated by the brand in Lisbon. A hub in the capital, and now a new destination 90 minutes away, linked by a dedicated Land Rover SUV transfer service.
From Lifestyle Concept to Family Legacy
The JNcQUOI name was first etched into Lisbon’s landscape eight years ago with the opening of its flagship restaurant on Avenida da Liberdade. Today, it encompasses a lifestyle portfolio under the Amorim Luxury Group umbrella: Avenida, Ásia, Club, Froufrou, Beach Club, Deli Comporta — alongside brands like Fashion Clinic, Paula, and House of Capricorn.
“We wanted to build something together”, Guedes de Sousa explains. “Paula is passionate about fashion and lifestyle. I’m passionate about hospitality”. Paula, of course, is Paula Amorim — his wife, chairwoman of Galp, and co-founder of the Amorim Luxury Group, who acquired Fashion Clinic in 2005.
The brand began as a collage of inspirations — magazine clippings, brainstorms, and a few guiding verbs: Eat. Drink. Shop. Live. Belong. “We wanted to be close to our clients. We wanted them to love the experience so much, they’d never want to leave.” That sense of belonging, of membership, sits at the core of JNcQUOI’s identity.
The phrase that encapsulates this? “Heartful legacy”. A personal legacy, deeply rooted in family. Miguel and Paula are joined by their children, Rui and Francisca, both now involved in the project. Rui, formerly at CBRE, is helping lead real estate development. Francisca, a recent graduate of the École hôtelière de Lausanne, is preparing for a placement in New York to deepen her hospitality training. “This was built to endure”, Guedes de Sousa says.
The 164-hectare property once belonged to the Espírito Santo family, later becoming part of the GES group. Its history stretches further back: in 1897, King Carlos I sold land in the region to The Atlantic Company, owned by industrialist Henrique Sommer. The land eventually formed the Herdade da Comporta, held by the Espírito Santo family until the group’s collapse in 2014.
Though Portuguese law forbids private beaches, this estate has what Guedes de Sousa describes as “its own beach” — though he dismisses criticism and “sensationalist journalism” about private access. “There’s no shortage of space or coastline,” he says. “What’s lacking is political courage, strategic vision, and coordinated public management”. He argues for structured public solutions: free or subsidised parking, regular transport to beaches, and investment in accessible infrastructure.
Designing with Intent
The homes lie just 700 metres from the Atlantic. Each villa includes a pavilion — some may be made available to the hotel pool. Van Duysen’s design came to the project by chance. At a dinner party, Paula and Miguel met him through mutual friends, saw his personal Casa M in Comporta the next day, and felt immediate alignment. That meeting prompted a full architectural rethink. “I made a mistake,” Guedes de Sousa admitted to Paula afterwards. She was the one who had the courage to hit pause and start over — a sentiment echoed by their son, Rui, at the presentation.
Van Duysen, who also designed the new Fashion Clinic store in Lisbon, envisioned a seamless blend of interior and exterior living. A nearly completed pavilion on-site exemplifies this philosophy: a sunken entrance reveals minimalist interiors, filled with light from a round skylight. A glass door opens entirely to the outdoor courtyard and pool, ensuring privacy without physical barriers.
Natural tones dominate the palette — cement, terracotta, and Brazilian wood — evoking the materials of his own home nearby. Five years after completing the design, Van Duysen remains confident: “It still makes perfect sense,” he tells ECO Avenida.
Freedom of Choice as Democratic Value
Guedes de Sousa reiterates his commitment to working with the local community — and calls out misleading narratives around beach access and real estate prices. “True democracy means giving people choice: beaches with more services for those who want and can afford them — and well-managed, free beaches, funded by public money”. “To demand from private enterprises what the State fails to provide is unjust”, he continues. “We fund lifeguards, cleaning, and operations — often at a loss — to ensure dignity and safety for everyone who uses this coastline”.
From the Avenida da Liberdade to Comporta, JNcQUOI is expanding its vision — not to be the largest, but, in the founder’s words, “to be the best”.
- This article was translated from the original Portuguese using AI-assisted tools, with editorial review to ensure clarity and accuracy.