WAS THE NEWSLETTER #115

I’m Paige Wassel. WAS the Newsletter is your weekly dose of design inspiration, where we’re living for 300 days of sun each year.

Mediterranean Modern, Pt. 1

Paige Should Work in Portugal: Springs Edition

It’s the Fire Horse year. If you don’t follow the Chinese calendar, this year is basically shorthand for “my dreams are now at a full gallop.” I’ve just landed a design project in London… which means I have my sights set on conquering all of Europe now and digging into Mediterranean Modern design.

I don’t mean Mediterranean Modern in the, “Hey, we painted a beige arch” way. (I mean… no.) I’m talking about the kind of architecture that actually belongs to the land it’s built on, where the materials make sense. Where the natural light’s incorporated. Basically, I’m into design where nothing feels like it was cut and pasted directly from the catalog.

The more I let myself go down this Med Mod rabbit hole, the more I keep circling back to Portugal. Specifically, I’ve been looking at the Algarve region in the south. Everything happening there architecturally just feels… utterly correct. You guys have heard me go on and on about MCM because of how it brings the outside inside. Mediterranean Modern does this, too. Picture low, grounded buildings in natural tones. Sleek and modern lines, but they’re softened by the natural stone. Here, indoor/outdoor living is more than just #vibes.

This brings me to the place I’ve been digging into recently: Springs in Vilamoura. But before we get into that, let’s talk about why Med Mod works in the first place.

What Makes Med Mod Work (And Why Most Developers Get It Wrong)

I hate how so many new developments in LA feel like they were built in a vacuum, with just zero awareness of what’s next door. I’m talking modern farmhouse next to Spanish next to glass cube. Ugh. It’s like a visual representation of the sound that’s made when you drop an entire drawerful of silverware. Just discordant. None of these styles talk to each other, and they disregard the elements, whether it’s sun, wind, or terrain.

What’s so cool is that the Algarve does the opposite. Instead of trying to dominate the landscape, the architecture actually blends. They use materials that don’t fight the elements, like using stone that cools. The textures come across as organic instead of feeling polished within an inch of their GD lives. The buildings feel like they’re supposed to be there, which is always my little test. If my first impression is, “Yeah, this looks like it belongs,” I’m immediately in.

Springs in Vilamoura hits that note.

Resort Living That Doesn’t Feel “Resort-y”

Springs has this marina-meets-golf-meets-ocean energy, so it’s a little something for everyone. You’re near water and championship golf, surrounded by lush green foliage and an azure sky. Legit breathtaking.

The property’s built into that landscape in a way that feels cohesive. The architecture stays low to the ground. Clean lines, but softened with Mediterranean details. Where indoor/outdoor terraces actually make sense because of the 300 days of sun a year. And here’s something I care about more than I probably should: the architecture doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. If you watch my YouTube channel, you know I’m allergic to buildings that feel jammed into a lot by a developer who didn’t, ya know, look around first. Springs feels intentional. Big fan.

That’s why I kept going deeper into this place.

The Wellness Thing

A lot of places throw around words like “wellness” and “resort lifestyle” and I immediately brace myself. What’s so cool is when wellness is built into the lifestyle. There’s a clubhouse called The Vista Club and it’s a full social hub. I’m talking:

Restaurant and bar
Private cinema room
Spa
State-of-the-art gym
Kids’ club
Tennis court
Outdoor pools
An indoor pool (my God, I love an indoor pool)
And, this is important: a 600-foot lazy river

(You already know where I’d be floating 90% of the time.)

What strikes me is how this all works architecturally: the amenities aren’t an afterthought. They’re integrated into the grounds. Pathways weave through greenery, and the materials used match the residences. This is not a Vegas-style resort plopped into southern Europe. This place feels super cohesive.

Golf, But Even If You Don’t Golf

I don’t play golf. I will, however, aggressively drive the golf cart. Springs residents get annual VIP access to the nearby Laguna and Millennium courses, including 12 complimentary rounds a year. (If you’re a golfer, this is probably a huge deal.)

While I’m not all about golf, I am totally about how the landscape shapes the architecture. Open views? Yes. Long sightlines? Absolutely. Green space everywhere? Always. Even if you never touch a club, you’re living inside a designed landscape. And that changes how a place feels.

The Lock-and-Leave Factor (This Is Key)

I think Americans are slowly waking to the appeal of lock-and-leave living. (Seriously, don’t we have enough to worry about already?) Springs has 24/7 concierge, housekeeping, and dedicated maintenance staff. There’s even a rental program available, which means you can treat your place as a second home and not stress about it sitting empty.

Architecturally, lock-and-leave matters. When you design a space for seasonal/part-time living, the layouts are more efficient and the flow’s simplified. You get privacy when you want it, community when you crave it, and the option to disappear for a few months without everything falling apart.

That kind of design thinking is underrated.

The Whole Safety Thing

Portugal’s currently ranked the 7th safest country in the world. Whoa. As a woman who’s perpetually afraid that someone’s outside lurking, this matters. When you feel safe, you can open up, metaphorically and literally. Here, you use terraces more. You let the boundaries between inside and outside soften because safety changes design.

That’s a huge deal.

Why I’m Talking About This

I partnered with Arrow Global to explore a few of their properties in southern Portugal. I wanted to start with Springs because it’s such a strong example of Mediterranean Modern done right.

The architecture respects its environment. The materials make sense. The amenities are intentional. And it’s about a lifestyle that’s shaped by climate and landscape. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m constantly talking about mixing old and new, keeping things authentic to their region, and designing for how people actually live. Springs checks those boxes.

So, next week, I’ll be taking you inside to talk about the interiors: what works, what I’d change (lamps, always), and how I’d personally design one of these spaces. Obviously, I have opinions.

But for now, I’m curious:

Are you drawn to Mediterranean Modern?
Have you been to Portugal?
Are you team golf, team lazy river, or team indoor pool?

LMK. ‘Cause I’m deep in this rabbit hole and not climbing out anytime soon. Stay tuned for the video, which you’ll see in Part 2!

Tchau!

xx,
P