The project developed by the team led by  Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier has won the Public Design Competition for the Elaboration of the Remodeling and Extension Project of the National Museum of Contemporary Art of Chiado (MNAC), located in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.

The proposal respectfully integrates a new volume in front of the historical value and the existing historical buildings, creating a visual and functional continuity with the city that seeks to balance historical memory and contemporary architecture to establish the museum as a cultural and architectural reference.

The programme proposed by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier organises the museum route in a linear fashion, facilitating circulation and creating a fluid experience in each exhibition area, with the aim of creating a continuous and sequential visual narrative for visitors.

The new volume, faithful to the heritage legacy of the complex, at the same time adopts a vision of innovation and openness towards the future, showing a great commitment to sustainability, accessibility and cultural integration. The building incorporates passive thermal control systems, taking advantage of the properties of the materials used in the project to regulate the temperature and reduce its energy consumption.

Rendering. National Museum of Contemporary Art of Lisbon by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier.

Project description by Luis Manuel Pereira + Baile Menduiña + del medio atelier

The project for the refurbishment and extension of the National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC) in Lisbon aims to revitalize this cultural space in the historic Chiado district, an area of significant heritage value. The proposal integrates the historical buildings with a new volume that seeks to balance historical memory with contemporary architecture. This volume respects the historical value of the surroundings, creating visual and functional continuity with the city while incorporating contemporary design elements that establish it as a cultural and architectural landmark.

The structure of the new volume acts as a mediator between the historic buildings, connecting exhibition spaces and circulation areas and enhancing the visitor experience. The base of the building is clad in lioz stone, an iconic material in Lisbon, which lends it a respectful presence rooted in tradition. In the upper levels, rustic ceramic mosaic introduces a modern texture that enriches the building's visual profile. This material approach reflects a harmony between past and present, allowing the building to be perceived as a natural extension of the Chiado district.

Visualización. Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Lisboa por Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña y del medio atelier.
Rendering. National Museum of Contemporary Art of Lisbon by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier.

The design organizes the museum tour in a linear system, facilitating circulation and creating a fluid experience in each exhibition area. On the access level, the main lobby connects directly with the sculpture garden, an outdoor space that serves as a transition between the museum and urban life. This garden not only functions as a public area for the contemplation of open-air works but also reinforces MNAC’s role as an accessible cultural centre open to the community. The layout of this garden seeks to integrate the museum with the neighbourhood’s natural routes, reinforcing its connection with the surroundings.

Functionally, the exhibition spaces are arranged to offer visitors a continuous, sequential visual narrative. The permanent exhibition resides on the lower level, while temporary exhibition rooms and the library are positioned on upper levels, establishing a spatial hierarchy that enriches the museographic experience. On the top level, the project includes a longitudinal terrace with panoramic views of Lisbon, providing a symbolic conclusion to the museum tour. This terrace also offers a place for reflection, reinforcing the relationship between the museum, the city, and the river.

Visualización. Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Lisboa por Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña y del medio atelier.
Rendering. National Museum of Contemporary Art of Lisbon by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier.

To improve sustainability, the facade is designed to optimize natural light, reducing the need for artificial lighting in exhibition areas. Additionally, the building incorporates passive thermal control systems, leveraging the materials' properties to regulate temperature, which helps reduce energy consumption.

The underground floors accommodate technical and storage areas, ensuring efficient management of collections and operational services. This layout allows for a clear distinction between technical functions and public spaces, maintaining a practical distribution that facilitates staff operations without intruding on the visitor experience. On the ground level, the lobby includes a shop and café with direct access to the sculpture garden, integrating these amenities into the daily life of the neighbourhood and enabling them to function independently. Temporary exhibition rooms feature adjustable lighting and mobile elements, facilitating a flexible, versatile arrangement suited to various exhibition formats, encouraging an interactive and engaging experience.

Visualización. Museo Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo de Lisboa por Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña y del medio atelier.
Rendering. National Museum of Contemporary Art of Lisbon by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier.

MNAC is also committed to accessibility. All areas are adapted for people with reduced mobility, with ramps, elevators, and appropriate signage, ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all visitors. Additionally, the project incorporates a publicly visible restoration space where visitors can observe the conservation process, adding educational and transparent value to the visit.

The new MNAC design represents a commitment to sustainability and cultural integration in Chiado. This architectural approach allows the museum to remain faithful to its heritage legacy while adopting a vision of innovation and openness toward the future. With a structure that combines functionality, accessibility, and urban integration, MNAC becomes a space where contemporary art and architecture engage with the community and the urban context. This project ensures that MNAC will continue to evolve in harmony with the city, consolidating itself as a cultural landmark where art and architecture come together to enrich each visitor’s experience.

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Architects
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Luis Manuel Pereira + Baile Menduiña + del medio atelier. Lead architect.- Luis Manuel Pereira.

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Project team Design team
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Baile Menduiña (Rodrigo Baile, Arturo Menduiña), del medio atelier (Mafalda Peres, Michel Zeca, Claudia Silveira).

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Collaborators
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Museum exhibition consultant.- Heloisa Vivanco. 
Structural engineer.- Edgar Cardoso.

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Client
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Government of the Portuguese Republic.

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Area
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8,000 sqm.

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Dates
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2024.

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Location
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Lisbon, Portugal.

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Architect Luis Manuel Pereira, university professor and PhD in Architecture from ETSAM: School of Architecture of Madrid (UPM) and the Lusíada University of Lisbon. Architect, author of numerous projects in Portugal, Italy, Spain and Brazil, awarded in several public and restricted competitions. Former leader of the Association of Portuguese Architects (now the Order of Architects) and director of ARQA Magazine. Tutor and evaluator of master's and doctoral theses. Organizer of colloquia, exhibitions and conferences both in Portugal and Brazil.

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Baile Menduiña is an architectural studio based in Valladolid, founded in 2022 by Rodrigo Baile (Valladolid, Spain, 1995) and Arturo Menduiña (Ávila, Spain, 1993). Since its inception, the studio has focused on architectural and urban design, prioritizing integration with the environment and respect for the history and specificity of each place.

The studio develops a wide variety of projects, collaborating with professionals from various disciplines and nationalities. Their participation in international competitions, in teams with other architects, has allowed them to broaden their vision and provide architectural solutions that respond to varied contexts.

Rodrigo Baile (Valladolid 1995). Graduated as an architect in 2020 from the Higher Technical School of Valladolid. He completed his training in 2017 at the Universidade Lusíada in Lisbon. He works as a collaborator at OA Estudio (Valladolid) and at Barozzi Veiga (Barcelona).

Arturo Menduiña (Ávila 1993). Graduated as an architect in 2018 from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Valladolid. He completed his training with the Master in BIM Management from Editeca certified by the Isabel I de Castilla International University. He has worked at ABLM architects.

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Del Medio atelier is an interdisciplinary and multicultural architectural studio founded in 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, by Michel Zeca and Mafalda Peres Couto, joined as a partner in 2023 by Claudia Silveira.

The studio bases its practice on the interrelation between architecture, art and design, with a particular focus on the power of a collaborative and investigative work methodology.

Situated between different disciplines, the studio seeks to understand how this relationship can be a generator of culture, intervening in the space between function and theory. At the same time, by highlighting issues inherent to the practice itself and its connection with society, the studio opens up to a field of transversal projects, both in programmatic typologies and in scales of intervention.

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Published on: November 13, 2024
Cite: "MNAC Refurbishment and Extension by Luis Manuel Pereira, Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier" METALOCUS. Accessed
<http://www.metalocus.es/en/news/mnac-refurbishment-and-extension-luis-manuel-pereira-baile-menduina-and-del-medio-atelier> ISSN 1139-6415
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