Taking advantage of the site’s steep slope, a semi-buried space was created to discreetly house much of the program, allowing the central house to stand out and preserve its historical character.
What seems like a basement aligns with the main garden, offering a surprising reveal. The permanent collection sits in a robust concrete volume, evoking a secure environment, while the temporary gallery and the canopy appear light and floating. Metal structure, glass, wood, and stone define both buildings, creating a subtle architecture that is durable, suited to high turnover, integrated with the outdoor areas, and warmed by the presence of wood.
Located on the grounds of the former Quinta de São João—a traditional typology in the cultural landscape of Sintra, known for its central manor and expansive gardens—the project sought to preserve its prominence. Acting as a subtle stitching between the site’s varying levels, the intervention integrates the gardens and highlights their presence throughout the entire journey. The project is conceived as a spatial journey — an architecture that unfolds through a carefully crafted path designed to highlight the local architecture and guide visitors through a journey of discovery across the different temporalities and cultures revealed along the way.
