The Antwerp, Belgium–based architect and designer Vincent Van Duysen is a giant in the interior design world. After earning a degree in architecture from the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture in Ghent and a few stints in offices, Van Duysen founded his eponymous firm in 1989. Today he is acclaimed for everything from high-end architecture to product design: He has designed collections with Zara Home since 2002, and since 2016 he has been the creative director for Molteni&C.
Van Duysen adores Comporta, a buzzy beach destination on the Portuguese coast south of Lisbon, and built Casa M for himself in nearby Melides. Now he is the architect of Club Comporta, a 405-acre project for JNcQUOI and Amorin Luxury Group set to open in 2028. Gay Gassmann caught up with him to discuss his vision for pared-down living set among the dunes.
Gay Gassmann (GG): What is your personal history with Comporta?Vincent Van Duysen (VVD): It all started 15 years ago when I fell in love with the region. It’s unspoiled, protected, and beautiful. It’s a rare combination of rice paddies, dunes, ocean, umbrella pines, and storks. I thought if I found a plot, I would construct my own holiday home there. One year later, I found land in Melides, adjacent to Comporta, and built Casa M. This is now my sixth summer in the area.
GG: The master plan for Club Comporta calls for 64 villas, just over half a mile of private beachfront, and many amenities. How did it all start with Paula Amorim and JNcQUOI’s Miguel Guedes de Sousa?
VVD: We met through a mutual friend during my first summer here; they came to visit me at home Casa M. They fell in love with it, and Miguel told Paula, “He is going to do our project.” The construction is already underway: The beach club opened last year.Read more of the interview on aninteriormag.com.
