# The Blue House Azores

By [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com) · 2025-06-11

azores, sao-miguel, portugal, blue-house, short-term-rental, airbnb, travel, architecture, atelier-backlar, design, waterfront, photos

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![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/c4409c2e508507b7849bc77fb6c88289.jpg)

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/d8b81bfa8e42ae5097a6749459fa71a0.jpg)

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/911c3112c6ece660fcc6bde82b1721ef.jpg)

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/1df5791a2f965ac6550289f5ba1d6292.jpg)

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/808c5bf07ccc98ea5a90e22c50bf6cfe.jpg)

These are photos of the Blue House — and its siting — in the civil parish of [Capelas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capelas) on the island of São Miguel. Designed by the Portuguese firm [Atelier Backlar](https://backlar.com/work/the-blue-house/), the house was completed in 2023 and now serves as a popular short-term rental in the Azores. If you'd like to take a look inside and/or book it, [here's the Airbnb listing](https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1065829335409855681?check_in=2025-09-15&check_out=2025-09-20&guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=bfde426b-c170-4bc7-b004-258d03278f33). Right now it's going for over C$1k per night.

But what's even more interesting about this property is that it once belonged to Bianca's maternal great-grandparents. Her great grandfather was a whaler and so its location on the water beside the _Porto das Capelas_ was naturally ideal for days in the office. This is also where Bianca's grandmother lived prior to emigrating to Toronto in the 60s.

Like a lot of real estate, there's an emotion-filled story that explains why it's no longer in the family. But I do think it's nice that the architects chose to preserve some of the existing walls of the previous house (which they describe as an abandoned ruin on their website). I also think it's cool that it has become one of the most noteworthy examples of modern architecture on the island.

Let's call this the second-best outcome.

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*Originally published on [Brandon Donnelly](https://brandondonnelly.com/the-blue-house-azores)*