A 18th century palace in Lisbon now houses a new art museum, offering guests the unique opportunity to spend the night within its grand halls.
The Museu de Arte Contemporânea Armando Martins (MACAM), a new contemporary art museum in Lisbon, Portugal, has recently opened its doors to the public[6]. Housed in the historic Palácio Condes da Ribeira Grande, an 18th-century building, the museum offers an immersive experience in contemporary art[3].
The museum's collection traces more than a century of Portuguese art history, from the naturalism of the late 19th century to the experimentation of the 1980s[4]. Major artists from every period are represented, including José Malhoa, Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso, Almada Negreiros, Vieira da Silva, Júlio Pomar, Paula Rego, Pedro Cabrita Reis, and Helena Almeida[2]. Additionally, the museum's collection includes international works by artists such as Marina Abramović, Olafur Eliasson, Thomas Ruff, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Ernesto Neto, Vik Muniz, and John Baldessari[5].
Two galleries in the museum host continually renewed temporary exhibitions to complement the permanent exhibition[7]. A contemporary wing links the various spaces of the museum, including the hotel, ensuring a seamless transition between the museum's different areas[8]. The three-dimensional tiles on the front of the contemporary wing were designed by Maria Ana Vasco Costa[9].
The Portuguese architecture studio MetroUrbe has rehabilitated the historic building, preserving and restoring its original features while incorporating modern museum functions[10]. The hotel, a first in Portugal and Europe with 64 rooms, is designed to extend visitors' experiences, blurring the boundaries between culture and daily life[11].
One of the museum's unique features is the Live Arts Bar, which provides a dynamic space for cultural events, socializing, and live performances connected to the museum's art programs[1]. The bar is housed in an 18th-century chapel, adding an extra layer of historical charm to the modern museum experience.
The MACAM Museum offers a multifaceted cultural destination in the heart of Lisbon, combining a contemporary art museum with permanent and rotating exhibitions, a five-star hotel, a Live Arts Bar, and a restaurant and cafeteria[3][5]. This integration of art, accommodation, and live events provides a unique experience for both locals and tourists visiting Lisbon.
[1] https://www.macam.pt/ [2] https://www.macam.pt/colecao/ [3] https://www.macam.pt/o-museu/ [4] https://www.macam.pt/historia/ [5] https://www.macam.pt/o-museu/o-hotel/ [6] https://www.macam.pt/noticias/noticia/museu-de-arte-contemporanea-armando-martins-macam-abre-as-suas-portas/ [7] https://www.macam.pt/exposicoes-rotativas/ [8] https://www.macam.pt/o-museu/galerias/ [9] https://www.macam.pt/o-museu/o-museu/o-edificio/ [10] https://www.metourbe.com/projecto/museu-de-arte-contemporanea-armando-martins-macam/ [11] https://www.macam.pt/o-museu/o-hotel/
- The Live Arts Bar, situated in an 18th-century chapel within the MACAM Museum, offers a space for cultural events, socializing, and live performances, providing a fusion of history and contemporary art.
- The MACAM Museum, nestled in the heart of Lisbon, offers a diverse lifestyle experience that includes accommodations at its five-star hotel, dining options at its restaurant and cafeteria, and engaging in fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel experiences.
- As part of the museum's offerings, the contemporary wing contains continually renewed temporary exhibitions, linking the various spaces of the museum and providing visitors with a seamless transition between art, culture, and daily life.
