Education
We believe the best eco-retreats in the world will be built by people who were never told they could. This library exists to remove the barrier of expert knowledge. Every system here can be copied, adapted and improved.
Open documentation · All systems · All materials
Designed
The Open Build
Everything Lusitano Retreat is building — water, food, stone, shelter, sport, power — documented fully and shared openly. 8 complete systems, 8 downloadable PDFs, 29 infographics. An honest blueprint for anyone who wants to build something real.
- 8 Systems
- 8 PDFs
- 29 Infographics
- Open Source Spirit
Why we publish everything
Built in the open — by design
Most retreat projects keep their plans private until launch. We do the opposite. Every system we design, every cost we discover, every mistake we make — we publish it. Here is why.
Community
Sharing our blueprint attracts the right collaborators — architects, growers, builders, makers, legal experts and future guests who believe in the same philosophy. Transparency is the first filter for finding the right people.
Accountability
When you publish your plans, you are accountable to them. Writing this documentation forces precision, surfaces assumptions, and creates a public record of what we said we would do. It holds us to our word.
Complete system catalogue
8 systems. One coherent retreat.
Each system below has its own full page, infographic pack, and PDF guide. Click any card to go deep.
Off-grid infrastructure
Water Systems
How we capture, filter and UV-certify water from three sources across three build levels — from a €321 DIY MVP to a fully licensed 50-guest system. Covers Portuguese law (APA, DL 69/2023, Legionella), radon risk in Norte Portugal granite, and a component shopping list with real prices.
- 3 build levels (A / B / C)
- €321 → €45,000
- 23-page PDF blueprint
Off-grid infrastructure
Power Systems
How we power a 21-day build sprint and a future retreat with no grid connection — a verified 3.4 kWh/day energy budget, September solar yield data for Norte Portugal (PVGIS), three costed build levels from a €700 survival kit to a permanent 5 kWp quinta system, and the fire-safe generator discipline Portuguese law requires.
- 3 build levels (A / B / C)
- €700 → €12,000
- 3.4 kWh/day sprint budget
Food production
Aquaponics Food System
A closed-loop fish-and-plant system built from two IBCs. Fish waste feeds plants; plants clean the water. €150–600 to build, €5/month to run. Covers 36 plants, 10 fish species, full nitrogen-cycle biology, and a staged approach — hydro first, fish second — that honest beginners can follow.
- 36 plant species catalogued
- ~€5/month to run
- 7 printable infographics
Land-sourced building
Stone Craft
Granite cleared from the site becomes walls, fire circles, paths and the sauna base. A colour-coded safety rule — green is DIY, red waits for a competent builder — keeps costs legal and the crew safe. Eight illustrated field cards cover sorting, splitting, dry-wall, gabion, fire-pit, paths, mortared and retaining walls.
- 8 technique field cards
- Zero quarry cost
- 🟢 DIY / 🔴 pro safety rule
Reclaimed fitness infrastructure
Outdoor Gym — PEDRA FORTE
A full outdoor training circuit built from pallets, granite, gabions, scaffold pipe, tyres and rope — all reclaimed or sourced locally. 44-element catalogue, 10 technical construction cards, EN 16630-compliant safety notes. MVP under €600. Sprint 1–21 September 2026.
- 44 equipment elements
- MVP under €600
- EN 16630-safe design
Supervised sport, not a weapon
Axe Throwing Station
A WATL/IATF-compliant throwing station built in three versions: bristle target (€60–180), real-wood target (€500–1,100), and premium retreat finish (€1,830–4,300). Legal notes cover liability, insurance, RNAAT registration and lockable storage requirements before opening to guests.
- 3 build versions (A / B / C)
- WATL · IATF dimensions verified
- 21-page PDF guide
Low-cost, high-character accommodation
Upcycled Retreat Units
Caravans and upcycled structures transformed into premium-rustic retreat units through reclaimed timber cladding, natural textiles, and careful landscape integration. A 56-project upcycling menu covers 12 zones across the site. Strategy: feel high-value, cost low-capex.
- 56 upcycling projects catalogued
- 12 site zones mapped
- 28 materials in the bank
Build methodology
21-Day War-Day Build Sprint
A volunteer-powered build framework — morning briefings, five crew roles, daily war logs, a green/red zone safety discipline, and a 21-day arc from cleared land to a working retreat. Designed for non-professional builders. Six field cards, a full playbook PDF, and daily mission cards for 4–5 crew.
- 21 daily mission cards
- 5 crew roles defined
- Sprint: 1–21 Sep 2026
Complete document library
Every PDF. Free to download.
No email required. No paywall. Every document Lusitano Retreat has produced — guides, presentations, playbooks, proposals — available to download and share.
23 pp
Water Systems
Download PDF Lusitano Water Blueprint
The complete off-grid water system guide: legal requirements in Portugal, source comparison, three build levels (A/B/C), component shopping list, risk register and maintenance checklist. Based on a 50-agent research sprint.
Power Systems
Download PDF Lusitano Power Blueprint
The complete off-grid energy guide: a verified daily load budget for the 21-day sprint, PVGIS solar yield data for Norte Portugal, three costed system levels (€700 → €12,000), component prices from Portuguese shops, generator fire-safety discipline and the legal path.
Aquaponics
Download PDF Aquaponics Illustrated Guide
Step-by-step construction manual for a two-tank aquaponics MVP. Covers plumbing, biofilter cycling, fish stocking, crop selection and troubleshooting. Printable and usable in the field.
Aquaponics
Download PDF Aquaponics Pitch Deck
A presentation-format overview of the aquaponics concept for guests, collaborators and media. Covers the circular biology, food output, costs and integration with the wider retreat ecosystem.
Stone Craft
Download PDF Stone Craft — Use System Guide
The complete granite-use framework for Lusitano Retreat: sorting, splitting, dry-wall, gabion, fire-pit, paths, mortared and retaining walls. Colour-coded safety zones. All illustrations, field cards and build specs in one document.
Build Sprint
Download PDF War-Day Build Playbook
The full operational manual for the 21-day volunteer build sprint: daily briefing rhythm, five crew roles, war-log format, safety stop-points, zone discipline, and the complete 21-day arc. Designed to run without a professional site manager.
Overview
Download PDF Project Overview Deck
A high-level presentation of the full Lusitano Retreat vision: the premium-rustic eco concept, ecosystem layers, the rent-to-buy land strategy, and the 21-day build framework — in one cohesive deck for guests, investors and collaborators.
11 pp
PT
Download PDF Owner Proposal — Dar Vida à Sua Terra
A warm, plain-language presentation in Portuguese for a landowner: the ecological and community impact of the project, and why a rent-to-buy structure keeps the owner earning a stable rent and always welcome on the land they love.
Visual documentation archive
Every infographic. Printable. Free.
Click any image to open full size. All infographics are print-ready — A3 or A4 — and free to share with your crew, your community or your collaborators.
💧 Water Systems Full page →
🐟 Aquaponics Full page →
🏋️ Outdoor Gym — PEDRA FORTE Full page →
🪓 Axe Throwing Full page →
🪨 Stone Craft Full page →
🏗️ 21-Day Build Sprint Full page →
Lusitano Retreat
Want to follow the build as it happens?
New documentation drops every sprint. Get on the list and we will send you every new guide, infographic and field report as it goes live.