Born in 1923, Ramiro Laranjo was an important Portuguese architect whose work became closely associated with the urban and touristic development of the Algarve region during the second half of the twentieth century. He graduated in Architecture from the Escola de Belas-Artes do Porto in 1961, developing an architectural language distinguished by the integration of buildings within the natural landscape, the use of organic forms, and the reinterpretation of Mediterranean spatial traditions, particularly through patios, terraces, and carefully articulated exterior spaces.

The most emblematic work of his career is the Vilalara Thalassa Resort, located in Lagoa, Algarve. In this project, Ramiro Laranjo materialized the original vision promoted by the British developer George Ansliy and the businessman Léon Levy, designing a luxury resort integrated into the coastal cliffs and extending across eleven hectares of seaside gardens. The architectural composition combined landscape sensitivity with a refined spatial organization, establishing the resort as one of the most distinguished touristic developments in Portugal. In 1990, in collaboration with the French specialist Jean Bobet and the designer Samuel Paillat, he further developed within the same complex the first thalassotherapy centre in Portugal. Covering approximately 2,600 square metres, the centre became an international reference in marine thermal treatments and attracted internationally renowned visitors, including Diana, Princess of Wales and Jimmy Carter.

Beyond luxury hospitality projects, Ramiro Laranjo also developed important work in residential architecture and urban planning. His projects included the urban and housing development of Alto do Poço, as well as the design of several exclusive single-family houses during the 1970s and 1980s. Across these works, he consistently explored the relationship between architecture, climate, topography, and regional identity, contributing to the consolidation of a distinct architectural character in the Algarve.

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PT/FAUL/ARQUIVO/RCL

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