Grupo Bel to rehabilitate Golden Eagle

The founder of Grupo Bel was born in Rio Maior and knows every nook and cranny of the area. As a child, he cycled along the town's paths and greatly admired the region. Realising that the Golden Eagle was abandoned, Marco Galinha thought that it would be the perfect opportunity to do something for the town that had given him so much in the past.

The Portugal News (TPN): What did you find when you first visited the space?

Marco Galinha (MG): I actually found an abandoned and vandalised space, a shadow of what it once was. I was deeply saddened to see the state it had reached. I know the history of these grounds very well. Quinta do Brinçal, where the Golden Eagle is located, has a very rich past and was a holiday destination for some of our country's most famous people. For almost twenty years it was also a favoured venue for European golf tournaments, sought after by lovers of the sport.

The setting I found only strengthened my desire to rebuild the Golden Eagle, not only for the recognition that history deserves but above all for the potential I see in this development.

TPN: What procedures were carried out to rehabilitate the space?

MG: Firstly, we set up a team of professionals and defined a refurbishment project. We also created the ‘Smart Living in Nature’ concept and the axes on which this project will be based. We know what we want and how we want to get there. This is a project of a lifetime, a job for many years because we want to do it well and innovatively. I believe that Golden Eagle can be an example to follow and implement in other places, it can add value and create a positive impact on people's lives, and that's something that should be done with serious planning and firm, sure steps.

TPN: Could you explain the ‘smart living future’ concept behind Golden Eagle?

MG: Golden Eagle is based on four main pillars: Nature, Living, Culture and Sports. The concept of smart living in nature represents how, by combining these vectors, we can recreate a perfect mini-city where we all want to live one day, where sports are promoted, respect for local culture, interact with nature, enjoy life outdoors and a certain return to the Earth, to what has been lost and which defines us as human beings. I think it's a self-explanatory concept because we really believe that this is the smartest way to live, in contact with nature and benefiting from what technology provides. It's a return home, to Mother Nature.

TPN: How important is sustainability for a project like Golden Eagle?

MG: It's fundamental, not just for Golden Eagle but for all the companies that make up the BEL Group since its creation. We have put sustainability at the centre of the decisions we make. It's too serious to be seen as a fad, and sustainability is part of our DNA. We know that this is a project for generations to come, and especially in this area we want to be pioneers and an example to follow.

TPN: What is being done to maintain the sustainability of the site? Are there any future projects in this direction?

MG: The team working on the development of the Golden Eagle is working hard to obtain the necessary certifications, in-depth knowledge of the region and the relationship we have established with the local community. This is a project that is being designed to guarantee energy self-sufficiency, from the choice of materials to the construction project for the houses, accommodation and sports facilities, everything is thought out and designed with this objective in mind.

I'd like to emphasise the benefits of greater contact with nature. I'm speaking from my own experience, from the days when I competed in mountain biking, or got on my bike and went for a few laps, I always felt peace of mind from being in contact with nature. That's very much what we want to provide in this space, and I believe it's an excellent way to escape the stress of everyday life and face the challenges of a hectic, fast-paced life. Living in communion with nature is something we can give ourselves.

For further information about Golden Eagle, please visit www.goldeneagle.pt

Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463. 

Bruno G. Santos