Belém Cultural Centre
Vittorio Gregotti; Manuel Salgado · Lisbon, Portugal · 1993
The Belém Cultural Centre uses an ensemble of stone-clad volumes, courtyards and passages to house a large cultural programme beside Lisbon's historic monuments. Vittorio Gregotti and Manuel Salgado designed the complex, which opened in 1993 after initially accommodating Portugal's European presidency activities. Its long façades give the building an institutional presence, while the interior public routes break down that scale into more familiar urban spaces. Museums, performance halls and meeting facilities share this framework. The project is most rewarding as a small piece of city, with thresholds and courts connecting the riverfront to its cultural interiors. Visiting: The museum and performances can be ticketed. Courtyards and public circulation have separate free access.