AB Concept’s deep-sea-worthy design of W Algarve

In Portugal’s southernmost region, where golden cliffs meet the Atlantic, W Algarve offers a fresh take on coastal design. Rather than leaning into predictable beach tropes, the hotel’s interiors draw inspiration from the world below the waterline, exploring the Algarve’s deep-rooted relationship with the sea through abstract forms, tactile finishes and culturally resonant details.

Penthouse II | Image credit: W Hotels

Architecture shaped by the sea

From the outset, the building’s architecture establishes a strong narrative connection to the ocean. Its sculptural form subtly echoes the open mouth of a whale, creating a sense of movement and quiet drama against the coastal skyline.

Arrival is conceived as a journey beneath the surface. Guests step into interiors inspired by the region’s iconic Benagil Cave, with ceilings that feature a luminous infinity mirror effect, evoking light refracting through water and cave openings. A gently narrowing walkway leading to the front desk mirrors the spatial compression experienced when entering the cave itself, heightening anticipation and immersion.

Immersive, not literal

Throughout the property, references to the sea unfold in both bold gestures and subtle moments. In the W Lounge, seating arrangements trace the gentle curves of a seashell, encouraging fluid movement and sociability. Above, colourful hand-blown glass lamps catch and refract sunlight, casting prismatic reflections that mimic the dappled shimmer of light beneath the ocean’s surface.

Walls across the hotel are adorned with holographic fish-scale detailing, introducing texture and iridescence without resorting to overt marine motifs. The result is atmospheric rather than thematic – a sensorial nod to underwater life that feels sophisticated and contemporary.

Guestrooms continue the narrative with playful cultural cues. Sardine-shaped pillows pay homage to Portugal’s beloved tinned fish tradition, grounding the design in local identity. Meanwhile, delicate lace motifs reference the Portuguese saying, ‘where there are nets, there is lace’, drawing a poetic parallel between fishing nets and traditional craftsmanship. This layered storytelling links maritime labour with artisanal heritage, reinforcing the Algarve’s enduring bond with the Atlantic.

Superior Accessible Room | Image credit: W Hotels

A deeper connection to place

By shifting the design lens from shoreline to seabed, AB Concept has crafted a hotel that feels intrinsically connected to its setting. At W Algarve, coastal hospitality is reinterpreted through depth, texture and cultural nuance, offering guests an experience that is less about sun and sand, and more about the mystery and memory of the ocean itself.

Main image credit: W Hotels