Centro de Arte Modern Gulbenkian opens in Lisbon

Image: courtesy of Fernando Guerra

The Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian (CAM), one of the most prominent cultural institutions in Portugal, reopens following an extensive reimagining.

The museum occupies a garden site in Lisbon alongside a library and a scientific research centre that together form the campus of the Fundaçao Calouste Gulbenkian. The museum’s transformation was led by the acclaimed Kengo Kuma & Associates, and Buro Happold was responsible for engineering design of the sweeping roof structure, a focal point of the project.

Kengo Kuma & Associates proposed the introduction of a canopy inspired by the Japanese Engawa – a sheltered walkway typical of Japanese dwellings – creating a new transition space between the CAM and the 18-acre park beyond.

Buro Happold has described the project:

'To achieve the impression of a floating canopy, we designed very slender steel-blade columns that are paired to form a V shape and strengthened using bespoke pinned connections.'

In the architect’s own words, the aim was to “craft a seamless fusion, where architecture and nature converse in harmony.” Taking inspiration from the essence of the Engawa, a new outdoor narrative is created, and visitors are invited to slow down and make the space their own. “The idea of softness and transition is extended to the CAM interior where we created new spaces by subtraction, replicating the building connection to the garden and exterior light.” 

Buro Happold was commissioned to provide structural engineering for the concept and scheme design phase. Translating the architectural vision of a roof that seems to float on a series of columns into a stable and buildable engineering design was the main challenge. The free-standing canopy structure is approximately 100m long by 15m wide and consists of a gently curved rigid plate supported by two rows of columns. For the area adjacent to the entrance, a second curved roof plate was devised to cover a wider area. To achieve the impression of a floating roof, very slender steel-blade columns were designed and paired to form a V-shape.

With slender columns pinned on both ends of the roof, the structural system relies on the simplest and most minimal load path. Stability in both directions for the roof is provided by the front row of short V-shaped columns, which allow the slender columns to sway and move more freely. Buro Happold suggested the construction of bespoke timber box sections and fabricated steel beams to realise a rigid, light plate of uniform depth. This solution enables an economic structure that is carefully tuned to prevent long term deflections, especially at the lower free edge—a linearity that is critical for the overall appearance of the canopy.