Aqua et Oleum: FDG’s First Overseas Hospitality Project
Aqua et Oleum is a project of passion and nostalgia located in the Extremadura region of Spain. The brainchild of Joseph Shortell, entrepreneur and furniture designer, this renovation and preservation project aimed to rejuvenate a dormant olive mill into a tranquil destination resort offering all the modern amenities needed for a luxurious stay within this seemingly untouched area of Spain.
The estate is just south of Villamiel in the Sierra de Gata Mountains, a land that is very rich in history, agriculture, and traditions. The region consists of sun kissed rolling hills dotted with mature olive trees, buildings and walls dating back to the renaissance, and a wonderfully charming populous. The oldest part of the property dates back to the 13th century with noted additions in the 1600s and 1800s. The architecture signals the buildings might have been a watch tower and church prior to becoming an olive mill in the 20th century.
Walking through the gates of the compound is the equivalent of stepping back in time. The grounds consist of the original mill building, a manor home, and silos originally meant to store the olives of different farmers. Untouched for years, the mill still features the olive processing equipment as well as the working water wheel that was used to power the facility. From the courtyard, one can hear the burbling Arroyo de los Lagares, a stream that runs along the eastern wall, while being afforded a magnificent view to the northeast of Castillo de Trevejo, a 15th century castle that overlooks the valley.
Joseph’s vision for the property is to create a boutique museum hotel. On the estate there will be eight large suite-style rooms, a gourmet restaurant, bar, and a large gathering space. The olive oil milling equipment will be preserved for guests to view how olive oil was produced in days of old. The grounds and buildings will feature custom artworks by both local and international artists. Additionally, there are plans to create a wedding venue on the property.
To accomplish this design goal, Joseph called upon the services of a local architect and interior designer Adrienne Faulkner, CEO of Faulkner Design Group. Knowing the spaces needed convey sense of nostalgia while catering to the needs and wants of western tourists, he knew this would play to Adrienne’s strengths as a designer. With her 30+ years of experience working in hospitality design, she was able to work closely with Joseph and the architect to help capitalize on the full potential for each of the spaces. Her services extended beyond the interiors and into the landscape as she also played the roles of site planner and landscape architect when the needs arose.
The pandemic hindered the progress of the project by preventing travel to the location along with making some of the FF&E items scarcely available. Thankfully, Joseph and Adrienne were able to circumvent these setbacks by utilizing the help of a local lawyer in Madrid. He played the crucial role of being the “boots on the ground” to see that progress was being made during the height of the lockdown. As for the issues with procuring certain elements for the interior design, Joseph and Adrienne designed their own items and had them produced at Joseph’s furniture factory in Mexico. Their ingenuity kept progress on the soon to be hotel moving in a positive direction.
The boutique hotel seeks to entice U.S. tourists to the area – appealing to food lovers, birdwatchers, and even those looking to escape for a hike in the mountains. Joseph expects travelers to use the hotel not only as their destination, but as a basecamp for their explorations of the Extremadura region of Spain.
Aqua et Oleum is set to open in late 2021. Feel free to visit www.aquaetoleum.com to stay up to date with progress updates and new imagery of the location.
