阿尔伯克基基金会丨葡萄牙丨Bernardes Arquitetura

Architects:Bernardes Arquitetura

Area:4000m²

Year:2025

Photographs:Fernando Guerra | FG+SG,Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu,Francisco Nogueira

Lead Architects:Thiago Bernardes, Thiago Moretti, Camila Tariki, Ilana Daylac

Category:Cultural Architecture,Exhibition Center,Restoration

Coordination:Renata Leite

Project Team:Tomás Villar, Ana Lopes, André Vuaden, Carolina Matsumoto, Bárbara Arita

Landscape Design:Topiaris

Engineering & Consulting > Lighting:OHM-E

Engineering & Consulting > Other:Meyvaert

General Construction:HCI

City:Sintra

Country:Portugal

Text description provided by the architects. The Albuquerque Foundation is a cultural institution located in Sintra, Portugal, dedicated to the presentation and study of Chinese export porcelain and contemporary ceramics.

The integration of architecture, museology, and landscape was at the core of the project design, which aimed to create a pleasant path inviting the discovery of the history and beauty of a unique collection - which comes to life through interaction with the architecture and contemporary art exhibitions.

Situated in the former Quinta de São João - a traditional typology of Sintra's cultural landscape, recognized for its expansive gardens - the project sought to preserve its prominence. Acting as a subtle stitching between different levels, the intervention integrates the gardens and enhances their presence throughout the entire path.

The historic building has been carefully restored and adapted to accommodate support functions such as a restaurant, library, shop, and lodging for artists and researchers in residence. The dialogue between the old and the new is marked by the visual and symbolic balance among the various elements, through a sober architectural language that respects the existing structure and highlights the new elements characterized by a neutral palette and the use of materials like exposed concrete, wood, and glass. The new pavilions cater to a diverse and rich programming that includes exhibition rooms, collections, study rooms, workshops, and technical areas.

The building housing the Albuquerque Collection is partially underground, revealing itself only by its sloped roof, which follows the topography and shapes a covered plaza, marking the arrival point for visitors and access to the main gallery.

Surrounded by glass panels that allow visual connection with the surroundings, the reception connects to the exhibition gallery through a sculptural spiral staircase. The gallery is illuminated by two light entrances, one zenithal and the other vertical, which serve as connection points with the gardens.

The exhibition and collection areas were designed to house the entire permanent collection, to be presented partially, about 30% at a time, creating an alternation. On the same floor, it is possible to glimpse the collection and the work of cataloging and maintenance through a display case that integrates with other exhibitors.

To accommodate the rotation and different curatorial demands, fixed perimeter display cases shape the space, while independent modules occupy the central area of the gallery, allowing for movement and adaptation depending on the exhibition.

The contemporary pavilion concludes the path and hosts temporary exhibitions of modern art, an auditorium, and support spaces for events. Designed to host a diverse cultural programming, the space was created with flexibility, allowing for multiple activity formats and different types of audiences.

Project gallery