More than just a book, UXUA UTOPIA – A Very Gifted Guest House is a richly layered portrait of UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa, the visionary eco-retreat founded by Dutch designer Wilbert Das in Trancoso, Brazil. Told through the poetic lens of Lidewij Edelkoort, the book explores 15 years of design evolution, cultural exchange, and community-led sustainability.
Locally produced under the direction of Lili Tedde and designed by Mariola López Mariño, UXUA UTOPIA reinvents the coffee-table book—blending art, craft, travel, and design into a powerful tool for aesthetic activism. This collector’s edition celebrates not only the paradise that is UXUA, but the values that shape it: circular economy, craft preservation, and deep human connection.
A must-have for lovers of conscious design, UXUA UTOPIA is proof that hospitality can inspire social impact—and that beauty and ethics can live side by side.
UXUA UTOPIA has taken center stage as the 1st Place winner in the Publishing category at the prestigious Fedrigoni Top Award 2025. Selected from over 900 entries spanning 32 countries, this work is far more than a book—it’s a sensorial journey into the soul of Bahia, Brazil, and a testament to sustainable hospitality and imaginative design.
Created by UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa and masterfully crafted in collaboration with Drukkerij robstolk Amsterdam, “UXUA UTOPIA: A Very Gifted Guesthouse” beautifully blends Brazilian craft, visual storytelling, and eco-conscious materiality.
The award was announced at a festive ceremony in Paris, highlighting the book’s unique capacity to transcend publishing norms and provoke the senses. The jury praised UXUA UTOPIA for interpreting a hotel as an iconic expression of destination—embracing a trend-defying tropical aesthetic, promoting local craft, and fostering a circular micro-economy for the Trancoso community.
This victory not only honors the creative team but also shines a spotlight on sustainable luxury, innovation in publishing, and the vibrant artistry of Brazil.
You can buy this fantastic book here.