LISBON, Portugal — Looking like a glistening ribbon, or better yet a shiney wave, Lisbon Portugal’s Museum of Art Architecture and Technology is going to be a fabulous addition to the banks of the Tagus River. It’s set to open in October.
Designed by Amanda Levete, of the London firm AL_A, the museum pays homage to Portugal’s history of ceramics with the three dimensional tiles riding the sweeping brim of the building. Brought to a high polish, these mirror-like tiles reflect both the sunlight and the water, integrating the museum seamlessly into its environment. The gentle sweep of the building leads to a terrace on the roof, allowing visitors an unobstructed view of the waterfront. From Designboom:
steps that lead down into the river are covered with water at high tide, creating a constantly changing environment. above, an overhanging façade covered in 3D tiles is a reference to portugal’s rich tradition of ceramics. while the cantilevered structure provides welcome shade, it also reflects sunlight off the water and into the building, tracing the shifting patterns of the tidal changes. MAAT opens to the public on october 5, 2016 with a 12-hour program that features exhibition openings, educational events, performances and music performances.
Levete’s building will be the standout portion of a campus that is home to the EDP cultural foundation. The sine wave is joined by a renovated power station building, which will host a permanent science and electricity display as well as add some industrial counterweight to the more conceptual sister building. From the museum:
MAAT reflects the desire to present national and international exhibitions with contributions from contemporary artists, architects and thinkers. Contemplating great themes and current trends, the programming will also present diverse curatorial views on the EDP Foundation’s Art Collection.
Do you love or loathe this use of contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.
What is the name of the 3D tile manufacture? We like to use that tiles in our building,
Love it- stunning design and a great use of ceramic material.