Location: Lisbon, Portugal.

Architect: Piero Castiglioni.

The Centro Cultural de Belem is a large architectural project that aims to connect the historic Belem area with the modern city of Lisbon. The building is 400 meters long and has a predominantly horizontal design, serving as a link between the Belem monument area and the nearby tower on the banks of the Tagus River. The building features a multi-level pedestrian pathway that organizes a complex system of spaces while maintaining an open sequence of spaces facing the river. The main pedestrian pathway is characterized by a sequence of differentiated spaces and side views of the intersecting service roads. The building’s main facade conforms to the dimensions of the nearby Convento de Los Jeronimos and houses the Council of the European Union, meeting rooms, an auditorium, a theater, and an exhibition center. The project’s centerpiece is the large public square of the museum, which features temporary exhibition spaces below the square and permanent exhibition spaces in the surrounding buildings. The garden terraces overlooking the river and the city host outdoor exhibitions. The project was designed by architects V. Gregotti and M. Salgado.

Photo credit: V. Gregotti.