A building that answers the climate first
Quinta da Comporta sits among working rice fields in the Comporta reserve, built by Miguel Cancio Martins in the shapes the place already had: the spa and restaurant follow the old rice barns, the villas follow the fishermen's cabanas, and the eira, the threshing floor at the centre, was left as it was. The technical decisions are published rather than implied. Ceiling heights were set high enough to let air stratify, and the glazing was sized to bring in daylight, both stated as reducing the need for air conditioning and artificial light. That is Air Ecology and Light Rhythm answered by the section drawing instead of by equipment, which is the cheaper and more durable way to do it.
Show more
Reclaimed wood and a hectare of garden
The build favoured reclaimed wood over concrete and reused its own rubble in levelling the site. Inside, the palette is salvaged local material: wood, wicker, glass and stone, with bunho detailing, rustic furniture and ceramics from Aveiro and Caldas da Rainha. The kitchen garden is a hectare and a half, planted each season with vegetables, fruit and aromatic herbs, and the MICHELIN Guide records the breakfast figs as picked from it. More than 600 square metres of solar thermal and photovoltaic panels heat the resort's water, and groundwater does the irrigation. Naming the plant and its size is what turns a sustainability page into evidence.
The gap worth naming
Two pathways here are empty and both would be quick to fill. Nothing is published about the wireless network, where its access points sit or what a bedroom reads, so EMF Harmony scores nothing. Nothing is published about sound either, and the sustainability page instead offers birds, wind in the rice and frogs at night, which is a lovely sentence and not a measurement. The water record stops at where the heat comes from: no treatment train, no analysis, nothing about the tap behind the zero-bottle policy. Lighting is published as LED, which is a bill rather than a circadian decision. This is a property that already thinks in sections and square metres. Four more numbers would finish it.
What this place offers
Daylight sized into the planLarge glazed surfaces and high ceilings, stated as reducing the need for cooling and artificial light.
600 square metres of solar panelSolar thermal and photovoltaic panels heat the resort's water, and irrigation runs on groundwater.
Reclaimed wood over concreteSalvaged local wood, wicker, glass and stone, with rubble reused in levelling the site.
A hectare and a half of gardenVegetables, fruit and aromatic herbs planted each season for the resort's two restaurants.
Built in the shapes of the placeRice barns and fishermen's cabanas as the plan, with the old threshing floor left intact.
Quinta da Comporta at a glance
Quinta da Comporta is a villa resort in Comporta, Alentejo, Portugal. We read what it publishes about the eight things a building does to your biology and scored the evidence 12 of 24. Last verified 2026-08-19. Air Quality is its best-documented pathway; nothing is published on EMF Harmony.
Each pathway scores 0 to 3 on the quality of the evidence published, not on the quality of the property. Open a row for every claim and its source.
Air Quality at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Filtration, ventilation and what the air is measured at.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
The building is published as designed to stratify air through generous ceiling heights, with orientation and glazing chosen so that air conditioning and artificial light are needed less. No air change rate or reading is published.
The architectural plan was designed to take advantage of natural resources, such as the positioning of the buildings, the use of large glazed surfaces to optimise the use of sunlight, or the choice of generous ceiling heights allowing air to be stratified, thus reducing the need for air conditioning and lighting.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Claimed
Where mechanical conditioning is used, the plant is named as heat pumps, which also heat the pools. No filtration or air quality measure is published.
We use more than 600m2 of solar thermal and photovoltaic panels to generate energy and heat the resort's water and heat pumps for air conditioning and to heat the swimming pools, prioritising clean energy sources.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What filter grade is fitted to guest room air handling, for example MERV 13 or HEPA H13?
- What is the fresh air supply rate per person in a guest room?
- Are carbon dioxide, particulate or volatile organic compound levels measured, and are the readings published?
- Is there a mould inspection and remediation protocol, and when was it last run?
- Are there gas cooktops, fireplaces or other combustion sources inside guest rooms?
Water Integrity at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Source, treatment, tested panels and how drinking water arrives.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
Hot water is published with the plant sized: more than 600 square metres of solar thermal and photovoltaic panels heating the resort's water, with heat pumps for the pools and groundwater used for irrigation.
We use more than 600m2 of solar thermal and photovoltaic panels to generate energy and heat the resort's water and heat pumps for air conditioning and to heat the swimming pools, prioritising clean energy sources. We use groundwater for irrigation, utilising natural resources intelligently and efficiently.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Claimed
Drinking water is served from refillable glass bottles and water points under a stated zero-bottle policy. No source, treatment or analysis is published.
We invite our guests to choose to adopt more sustainable practices during their stay, such as reusing glass bottles and using the water points available, thus contributing to our 0-bottle policy.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What is the water source, and what treatment is applied before it reaches a guest room?
- Is there a published contaminant test panel, and which laboratory ran it?
- Is shower and bath water filtered, and to what specification?
- How are pools and spas sanitised, and is the chemistry published?
- How is drinking water delivered, and is it treated on site?
Light Rhythm at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Circadian lighting specification, flicker, blackout and daylight.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
Daylight is treated as a design instrument: large glazed surfaces are stated as being there to optimise sunlight and reduce the need for artificial light. No lux level or daylight factor is published.
the use of large glazed surfaces to optimise the use of sunlight, or the choice of generous ceiling heights allowing air to be stratified, thus reducing the need for air conditioning and lighting
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Claimed
Artificial lighting is published only as a consumption decision: all lighting is LED. No colour temperature, dimming schedule or blackout provision is published.
All the lighting at Quinta da Comporta is low-consumption, using LED technology.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- Is guest room lighting tunable or circadian, and what specification is published?
- What colour temperatures are used in the evening, and are fixtures flicker free?
- Do sleeping areas have full blackout, and is it specified?
- What daylight access does a typical room have?
- Is exterior lighting shielded or reduced overnight?
EMF Harmony at Quinta da Comporta: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Wired versus wireless topology, and what is measured where people sleep.
We looked for published information on EMF Harmony and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- Are guest rooms wired for data, or is access wireless only?
- Where are wireless access points and smart meters placed relative to the bed?
- Have field levels been measured in sleeping areas, and by whom?
- Can a guest have wireless disabled in their room on request?
- Is any shielded cabling or shielding material specified in the build?
Materials and Textiles at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Named materials, finishes, bedding composition and cleaning chemistry.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
The structural material choice is stated and justified: reclaimed wood used in preference to concrete, with the rubble from levelling reused on site.
Favouring natural materials, specially reclaimed wood, significantly reduced the environmental impact when compared to concrete alternatives. All the rubble was reused in the inevitable process of levelling the land.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Specified
Interior materials are named by type and by origin: salvaged wood, wicker, glass and stone from the area, with bunho and wicker detailing, rustic wooden furniture and ceramics from Aveiro and Caldas da Rainha.
The neutral palette of tones is set by the use of salvaged natural materials of the area, such as wood, wicker, glass and stone with décor motifs designed by local artisans that colour in each space with authenticity.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, About. Checked 2026-08-19. - Claimed
A third party publisher records biodegradable cleaning products in use throughout the resort. No brand, certification or ingredient list is named.
An organic vegetable garden supplies the seasonal kitchen, and biodegradable cleaning products are used throughout.
PublishedGirls Who Eat, Non-Toxic Travel Made Simple, The Non-Toxic Design Hotels That Are Actually Worth the Price Tag. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What are the mattresses made of, and are they treated with flame retardants?
- What is the fibre content of the linen, and is it certified, for example to GOTS or OEKO TEX?
- Which paints, adhesives and sealants were specified, and are they low emission?
- What cleaning and laundry products are used, and is the list published?
- Are there named low emission certifications on the flooring or joinery?
Food and Kitchen at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Sourcing, on site growing, cookware, kitchen water and additive discipline.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
The kitchen garden is published with its area: one and a half hectares planted each season with vegetables, fruit and aromatic herbs, supplemented by local suppliers.
Our garden's one and a half hectare of land is planted with an abundance of vegetables, fruit and aromatic herbs each season. In addition to our own harvests, we work with local suppliers, always favouring fresh, seasonal and local ingredients in the dishes we serve at our restaurants.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Claimed
An independent guide records breakfast fruit picked from the property's own garden, with the restaurant and spa set around the estate's original threshing courtyard.
The restaurant and spa are set around an original terracotta courtyard where old grain stores once stood, breakfast includes just-picked figs from the garden, and the outdoor swimming pool looks out over serene rice fields.
PublishedMICHELIN Guide, Quinta da Comporta - Wellness Boutique Resort, Comporta. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- What share of produce is grown on site or sourced locally, and is it verified?
- Which cooking oils are used, and is the policy published?
- What cookware is used in the kitchen?
- Is kitchen and ice water filtered, and to what specification?
- Is there a published position on additives, preservatives or allergens?
Biophilic and Healing Design at Quinta da Comporta: Specified (2/3)
2Specified, 2 of 3.
Specified2 of 3 · Nature access, views, volume and natural material contact, designed with intent.
What the evidence shows
- Specified
The buildings are published as reconstructions of local agricultural types: the spa and restaurant recreate the old rice barns, the villas follow the fishermen's cabanas, and the eira threshing floor at the centre was left intact and still in use.
The Oryza Spa and Inari Restaurant buildings recreate the old rice barns while our Pool Villas integrate the traditional lines of the region's architecture in a reference to the old fishermen's cabanas. The Eira, the centre of the property and a cultural symbol of the region, has remained intact and continues to be used today as a community meeting place.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19. - Specified
The scheme is attributed to a named architect, Miguel Cancio Martins, and to a stated rule: build within the pre-existing architectural tradition of the reserve rather than against it.
Always concerned with preserving the balance of the natural reserve, Quinta da Comporta was built to integrate harmoniously into its surroundings, respecting the pre-existing architectural tradition, seeking natural energy efficiency solutions and upholding the cultural significance of the property within the village of Carvalhal.
PublishedQuinta da Comporta, Sustainability. Checked 2026-08-19.
What is not published
- Does every guest room have direct outdoor access or an operable opening?
- What is the published design intent behind the natural materials used?
- What are the typical ceiling heights and room volumes?
- Was the landscape designed with native planting, and is the palette published?
Sound and Sensory Ecology at Quinta da Comporta: Not published (0/3)
0Not published, 0 of 3.
Not published0 of 3 · Measured background noise, separation between keys, and scent load.
We looked for published information on Sound and Sensory Ecology and found none. That is a gap in the public record, not a finding about the property.
What is not published
- What is the measured background noise level in a guest room at night?
- What acoustic separation is specified between adjoining keys?
- How loud is the guest room air conditioning at its lowest setting?
- Is fragrance diffused into guest rooms or public areas, and can it be declined?
38 open questions could be answered with information this property already holds. Answer these for this property
What is not publishedthe gaps we looked for and did not find
Quinta da Comporta publishes its building physics and stops at the guest's skin. Nothing is published on network topology, access point placement or field levels in a bedroom, so EMF Harmony is empty. The sustainability page describes the sound of birds, wind through the rice paddies and frogs at night, which is atmosphere copy rather than an acoustic measurement, so Sound and Sensory Ecology is empty: no background level, no separation between rooms, no plant noise figure. Ceiling heights and glazing are published as reducing the need for air conditioning and artificial light, and no air change rate, filtration grade or lux level is published behind either. Water is documented as solar thermal heating, groundwater irrigation and a zero-bottle policy, with no treatment train, no analysis and nothing about what comes out of a tap. The resort's page also claims a Biosphere sustainability plan and its own entry appears in that body's community listing, which records commitments rather than a certification, so nothing has been admitted for it here.
Other standards held
Useful context. A held standard does not move a pathway score on its own. It moves a score only through the evidence that standard publishes.
- SLH Considerate Collection, Considerate Collection, actively sustainable luxury hotels Awarded by Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Source
- Girls Who Eat Conscious rating, Meets 3+ of our standards or still has synthetic fragrance in its main spaces or beauty products. Shows a clear commitment to non-toxic travel, such as local sourcing or wellness offerings Awarded by Girls Who Eat, Non-Toxic Travel Made Simple. Source
Verification recordwho checked this, how, and when
Verification record
- Method
- Desk research of published sources, each claim cited
- Reviewed by
- Certified Spaces Standards Inc.
- Last verified
- 2026-08-19
- Changes
- Every correction is logged
Not published is not unsafehow to read these scores, and what this index does not promise
A low score means a property has not published information. It does not mean the property is unsafe, unhealthy or poorly run.
These scores measure disclosure. These scores describe disclosure, not property quality. This index has no commercial relationship with the properties listed unless a badge on the listing says otherwise.
Conditions change, and we will not always know. Every record is a snapshot of what a property had published when we read it, and that date is on the page. Conditions change: a property can refit, change suppliers or replace a system at any time, and nothing requires it to tell us. We re-read records and ask properties directly for updates, but there will always be a gap between what is true today and what was published when we looked. Use this as a frame of reference for what to ask, not as a substitute for asking. Take your own questions to the property before you book, and tell us if you find something we have wrong.
We report what properties publish. We do not inspect, certify or vouch for any property on this index unless a listing says we assessed it on site, and we accept no responsibility for decisions made or outcomes experienced on the basis of what you read here.
Questions travelers askwater, air, EMF, and whether it is worth it
Questions travelers ask about Quinta da Comporta
Does Quinta da Comporta publish water quality testing?
Yes, at specification level: a named system, supplier or standard is on the record, without a published measurement. Scored 2 of 3.
What is the air quality like in the rooms?
We can only report what is published about the rooms themselves. Yes, at specification level: a named system, supplier or standard is on the record, without a published measurement. Scored 2 of 3.
Is Quinta da Comporta low-EMF?
No measurement is published. Only 15 of the 92 properties we have researched publish any bedroom EMF information at all, so this is the industry norm, not an outlier.
Is Quinta da Comporta worth it?
We score evidence, not experience. On evidence, it ranks 11 of 92 researched records. The strongest documented pathways are Air Quality and Water Integrity; nothing is published on EMF Harmony or Sound and Sensory Ecology.