Museu Gulbenkian reopens after restoration of modernist architecture

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon has reopened after an extensive restoration that recovers the original modernist vision of its 1960s architects. Led by Portuguese architect Teresa Nunes da Ponte with French conservation specialist Frédéric Ladonne, the project removed decades of alterations to restore the building's identity and its integration with the surrounding gardens. Designed by Ruy Jervis d'Athouguia, Pedro Cid, and Alberto Pessoa, the museum was uniquely conceived so each space would suit its collection, spanning ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian, Chinese, Japanese, Islamic, and European art. The restoration replaced makeshift sun-blocking systems with UV-filter films and micro-perforated screens, preserving views of the gardens while protecting artworks. New trees and shrubs were planted to enhance natural shading. Museum displays now feature anti-reflective glass, and a new lighting system recreates the warm tone of the 1969 inauguration. Partitions were removed in European galleries to restore spatial flow, and a perforated panel connecting Asian and European collections was reinstated. Materials like wood, concrete, bronze, stone, leather, and silk were restored, and carpet was reinstalled in European galleries, replacing the wood floor from the early 2000s to reduce reflections and improve the visitor experience.