Lisbon is about to get a new Museum for Art, Architecture and Technology
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

London-based architects AL_A, headed by Amanda Levete, are behind the striking design for the new MAAT - Lisbon’s new Museum for Art, Architecture and Technology, set to open this autumn
A new landmark is about to land onto the long Lisbon waterfront; the brand new MAAT museum, situated in the Portuguese capital's Belem district, has been taking shape and gearing up for completion later in the year, designed by London based architects AL_A.
The low-rise striking new building, sat along the city's riverside, is designed to become Lisbon's hot new cultural centre, the Museum for Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT). The curvy structure cleverly swells and ducks into the ground to form flexible exhibition halls that merge with some 7,000 sq m of new public space by the water.
The museum is supported by the country's EDP Foundation. 'In understanding EDP's ambition for Lisbon, our design draws on the context of the site, creating both physical and conceptual connections to the waterfront and back to the heart of the city', says AL_A principle Amanda Levete.
The new building's fluid, organic form shimmers playfully, reflecting the hues and movements of the nearby sea. Its skin, made out of glazed tiles, is inspired by the country's rich material heritage and tradition in colourful ceramics.
Steps built within the landscaping lead down to the water's edge, ensuring the new structure maintains a connection and harmonious balance with its context, while at the same time heads the Lisbon neighbourhood's wider ongoing regeneration.
Currently in advance stages of construction, the museum is planning its grand public opening to take place in October 2016. Under the direction of Pedro Gadanho, the museum will open with a show entitled UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA, PART 1: Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster.
The structure is situated by the Lisbon waterfront in the neighborhood of Belem and it will connect the seaside with the inner city through a bridge – contruction on that element hasn’t started yet
The low, organic structure is covered in ceramic tiles, referencing Portugal’s rich tradition in the specific material
Currently in advanced construction, the building will combine public space above, with museum areas below ground
The MAAT will include flexible exhibition spaces that will be able to host art, architecture and technology shows with equal ease
Gearing up for opening in October 2016, the upcoming MAAT is set to become Lisbon’s new cultural hotspot
INFORMATION
For more information visit the AL_A website (opens in new tab)
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture Editor at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018) and Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020).
-
Lucas Ossendrijver continues his fashion return with Theory collection inspired by New Yorkers
Lucas Ossendrijver looks to the brand’s home city of New York for his second ‘Theory Project’ collection (released 31 March 2023) melding function and elegance in his signature style
By Jack Moss • Published
-
Bosco Sodi’s monumental new Mexico City studio is a multifunctional feat
As Bosco Sodi unveils his new Studio CMDX in Atlampa, Mexico City, we speak to the artist about how the vast Alberto Kalach-designed former warehouse is a feat in multitasking
By Juliana Piskorz • Published
-
Saltviga House is an architectural celebration of leftovers
Saltviga House by Kolman Boye Architects ingeniously uses offcuts from Dinesen planks to create a timber retreat on the south coast of Norway
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Sydney Modern opens its doors and reveals immersive SANAA architecture
SANAA’s Sydney Modern opens its doors to the public in Australia
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Roll up! It‘s the Faro Modernist Weekend’s inaugural edition
Faro Modernist Weekend, a festival dedicated to mid-century architectural delights in the Portugal’s Algarve, has just launched its first iteration
By Stacy Suaya • Last updated
-
Refreshed Gainsborough House in Suffolk gears up for reopening
Thomas Gainsborough House in Suffolk reopens to a design by architecture studio ZMMA
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
Etruscan Galleries at Fondazione Luigi Rovati by Mario Cucinella just flow
In Milan, the Etruscan Galleries at the Fondazione Luigi Rovati, designed by architect Mario Cucinella, open to the public
By Ellie Stathaki • Last updated
-
Pa.te.os hotel in Portugal is a concrete love affair with Alentejo
Pa.te.os hotel by Aires Mateus is set in the Alentejo landscape in Portugal and celebrates the blend of concrete and nature
By Jessica Rose • Last updated
-
Morphosis unveils flowing Orange County Museum of Art
Explore the curved shapes and expressive interiors of the Orange County Museum of Art by Morphosis, now open in California
By Ellie Stathaki • Last updated
-
Buffalo AKG Art Museum by OMA looks to the future
The Buffalo AKG Art Museum (formerly the Albright-Knox Art Gallery) is reborn with a striking OMA-designed extension, site-specific installations, and a new focus on the local community
By Amy Serafin • Last updated
-
Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2022 offers a fresh exploration of Earth
We explore the offerings of Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2022, and its theme ‘Terra'
By Natasha Levy • Last updated