The Ashana, Faro
Where contemporary architecture, Arabesque heritage, and the quiet landscapes of the Ria Formosa come together in a new vision for luxury in the Algarve.
Please note that The Ashana is scheduled to open in the winter of 2027/2028.
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A design-led retreat that reinterprets the Algarve’s Moorish heritage through contemporary architecture.
● An atmosphere built around stillness, light, and carefully crafted spaces rather than conventional resort luxury.
● A promising new addition to Faro that embraces culture, landscape, and understated elegance.
A New Vision for Faro
The Ashana represents a different kind of Algarve hotel. Rather than following the region’s familiar resort formula, it introduces a quieter, more architectural approach to hospitality, positioned between Faro’s historic centre and the extraordinary wetlands of the Ria Formosa Natural Park. Designed as a sanctuary rather than a destination for spectacle, the hotel places atmosphere, proportion, and calm at the centre of the guest experience. Here, architecture becomes a framework for slowing down, inviting guests to reconnect with the landscape and the remarkable quality of southern Portugal’s light.
Inspired by Al-Andalus
The hotel’s architectural language draws subtle inspiration from the Algarve’s centuries of Moorish influence. Rather than recreating traditional architecture, The Ashana distils its essence into a contemporary vocabulary of softly curved forms, shaded courtyards, geometric screens, and filtered natural light. References to Arabesque design appear throughout the architecture as abstract gestures instead of decorative statements, allowing heritage to inform the experience without overwhelming it. The result feels timeless rather than historical.
Architecture That Belongs
Low-rise volumes, limewashed walls, natural stone, and earth-toned finishes allow the buildings to settle naturally into the Algarve landscape. Courtyards and sheltered gardens echo the traditional riad, creating intimate outdoor rooms where water, shade, and vegetation become essential architectural elements. The interplay between enclosed spaces and open terraces allows cooling breezes and shifting daylight to shape the atmosphere throughout the day. Every element appears designed to work with the climate rather than against it.
Interiors of Quiet Refinement
Inside, the same philosophy continues through restrained yet tactile interiors. Natural materials, handcrafted details, sculptural furniture, and muted colour palettes create spaces that feel calm and grounded. Gentle references to Islamic geometry, symmetry, and pattern are woven subtly into the design, while generous terraces and private courtyards blur the boundaries between interior and exterior living. Luxury is expressed through craftsmanship, proportion, and serenity rather than excess.
Between City and Nature
Few locations in the Algarve offer such a compelling balance between culture and landscape. Guests will be able to explore Faro’s historic streets, discover the unique ecosystem of the Ria Formosa with its lagoons, islands, and birdlife, or venture further along the Algarve coast before returning to an environment deliberately designed for stillness and reflection. The Ashana promises to showcase a more sophisticated and contemplative side of the Algarve—one that remains deeply connected to both its history and its natural surroundings.
The Final Word
Although still awaiting its opening, The Ashana already stands out through the clarity of its vision. Rather than competing through scale or spectacle, it proposes a quieter form of luxury shaped by architecture, heritage, and atmosphere. If realised as envisioned, it has the potential to become one of the Algarve’s most distinctive design hotels—a place where Moorish influences, contemporary minimalism, and the extraordinary light of southern Portugal come together in perfect harmony.
