About us
Udêxerê Eco House, located in the village of Santo Antônio, is a family project born from a doctor's dream—one that values both nature and the local community.
"Udêxerê" means "gathering" in the Pataxó language; it was the name chosen by Dr. Alberto Plenamente Junior for the guesthouse he had dreamed of for years and finally opened during the 2017 New Year's celebrations. Situated where the Santo Antônio River meets the sea—in the village of Santo Antônio, within the municipality of Santa Cruz Cabrália in southern Bahia—the guesthouse was designed and built down to the last detail by Alberto and his trusted right-hand man, Isael, a local resident.
Alberto first visited Bahia at age 17; as a reader of Jorge Amado, he had long been fascinated by the region's stories. Later, he began visiting the southern part of the state almost annually whenever he wanted to disconnect. "Southern Bahia always held a powerful magnetic pull for me." Driven by this passion and a desire for an alternative lifestyle offering a better quality of life, he began dreaming of opening a guesthouse in the area. He and his daughter, Natália, even sketched and envisioned the venture on paper napkins. He bought the land twelve years ago and initially built a family home. Afterward, he began shaping the guesthouse project, which required significant infrastructure—including road construction, an artesian well, a water treatment system, and an electrical grid connection.
Construction took many years and brought a few surprises along the way. Two decades ago, Alberto had envisioned bungalows built over a lake, but when he found this specific plot of land, the design had to change to harmonize with the natural surroundings, as the goal was to build something with minimal environmental impact. However, midway through construction, water began to spring up in a lower-lying area, forming a lake that now encircles the swimming pool. Some pieces were brought from India during a trip Alberto took a year before the guesthouse construction was completed.
It was the doctor who conceived every detail of the guesthouse, from the décor to the landscaping. He brought his ideas to life with the help of Isael. They were followed by Dona Celia—now the cook at Udêxerê—and Juscelino, who helped with the garden. "We gave them the opportunity to discover new skills and grow. All the labor, from the initial construction to the present day, has been local. My father always made a point of employing the local population rather than bringing people in from outside," says Natália Plenamente, who now also manages the guesthouse.
Local craftsmanship was also valued alongside the local workforce; the beds and some of the furniture were made by an artisan named Rato, from the nearby community of Guaiú.
An altar featuring clay pieces made by Lourdes do Amaral, Tarsila do Amaral's niece.
The items brought from elsewhere were decorative elements that fill the spaces with sentimental value. One of the common areas features an altar displaying family heirlooms. "The best part is the clay pieces, which were made by Lourdes do Amaral in Piracicaba. She was Tarsila do Amaral's niece and was greatly influenced by her aunt," Natália explains.
A collection of plates brought back from various trips.
Natália shared all these stories with warmth when she welcomed the *Casa Vogue* team to the guesthouse in early November. In every corner of Udêxerê Eco House—which has 10 guest rooms—one can feel the love poured into the project. "Our main goal is for guests to feel at home, to leave missing the place, but knowing they’ve made new friends and have a home waiting for them in southern Bahia," Natália adds.