Buro Happold and Kengo Kuma & Associates have joined forces to undertake a significant redesign of the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Portugal. At the heart of this transformation is a stunning, sweeping timber roof that creates a seamless visual and spatial connection between the interior spaces and the lush outdoor environment, as well as between the building and its beautifully landscaped surroundings. Recently reopened to the public, this art center is nestled within a garden that also houses a library and a scientific research center, collectively forming the vibrant campus of the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.
The Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian continues to showcase an impressive collection of nearly 12,000 artworks from both Portuguese and international artists. The architectural vision was brought to life by Kengo Kuma & Associates, while Buro Happold played a crucial role in engineering the striking roof structure, which serves as a focal point for the entire complex. This collaboration has resulted in a space that harmoniously blends art, nature, and architecture.
Kengo Kuma & Associates drew inspiration from the traditional Japanese engawa to create a new transitional area that bridges the building and the adjacent park. The engineering team faced the challenge of transforming the concept of a roof that appears to float on a series of columns into a stable and constructible reality. The free-standing canopy structure spans approximately 100 meters in length and 15 meters in width, featuring a gently curved rigid plate supported by two rows of slender columns.
Near the entrance, Buro Happold designed a second curved roof plate that extends over a larger area, incorporating delicate steel-blade columns arranged in a V-shape to evoke the sensation of a floating roof. The engineering team described this endeavor as “an exercise in the pursuit of simplicity,” emphasizing that the roof plays a vital role in the formal and poetic dialogue between the refurbished museum building and the newly landscaped park.
With slender columns anchored at both ends of the roof, the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian embraces a remarkably simple and minimal load path. The front row of short V-shaped columns provides stability in both directions for the roof, allowing the delicate columns to sway and move with greater freedom. This design choice enhances the overall fluidity of the structure.
To achieve a rigid yet lightweight plate of uniform depth, Buro Happold proposed custom timber box sections paired with fabricated steel beams. This innovative approach ensures that the building remains finely tuned, preventing long-term deflections, particularly at the lower free edge. Such linearity is essential for maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the canopy.
Kengo Kuma expresses the vision behind the design, stating, “We unveil a new outdoor narrative, inviting visitors to slow down and make this space their own.” This concept of softness and transition extends into the interior of the Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian, where new spaces have been created through subtraction, echoing the building’s connection to the garden and the influx of natural light.