VERMELHO

The Red House of Christian Louboutin

It is the first hotel project by shoe designer and “high-heel king” Christian Louboutin: Vermelho Melides.

Vermelho means red in Portuguese – red like the famous soles of his shoe creations. The hotel, which opened only in spring 2023, is located in the heart of Melides, a charming village in Alentejo, Portugal, a region particularly dear to him. Here, we present the first impressions.

Louboutin discovered Melides around ten years ago – on his way back from the hospital in Santiago, of all places. While designing a new collection at his retreat in Comporta, he had suffered a serious injury and required treatment. He was immediately captivated by the dreamlike atmosphere of the Melides sand pine forest and the unique beauty of the area. He decided to purchase a small fisherman’s hut, which he lovingly restored. Since then, he has returned every June to design his winter collection.

In time, an entire hotel emerged on the property. It was born from the desire to create a secret sanctuary. The hotel’s name – Vermelho, Portuguese for red – is an homage to the signature colour of its founder and designer. It is an exclusive hotel that is open to the world while celebrating the savoir-faire and traditions of the Iberian Peninsula.

Christian Louboutin is a true aesthete, passionate about art, craftsmanship and cultures from across the globe. In bringing the hotel to life, he gathered friends, artists and artisans around him to help realise and materialise the dream. To breathe life into Vermelho, he also called upon the talents of architect Madalena Caiado, with whom he had previously worked on his Lisbon home, as well as his long-time friend Carolina Irving, who acted as consultant for textile creations and overall decoration.

A multicultural spirit defines the 13 rooms and suites of Vermelho: intricately woven chairs from France, Moorish side tables, Murano-glass wall lamps, Indian carpets. At times one feels transported to Italy, at others to Morocco or India. And time and again, the vivid red reappears – on furniture, window and door frames, and floors.

“It has long been my dream to design and own a hotel. I like turning my dreams into reality. And that is why Vermelho was born,” says Christian Louboutin, the newly minted hotelier.

Explore more about hotel Vermelho here