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Parque das Nações · Sights & Landmarks

The Pavilhão de Portugal stands in Parque das Nações, the Lisbon district reshaped by the 1998 World Expo, with its address given as Cais Português, 1990-221 Lisboa. The building was created to house Portugal's national representation at Expo '98 and was inaugurated on 22 May 1998. Álvaro Siza Vieira designed it, working with the engineer António Segadães Tavares. It has two floors and a contemporary architectural style. The entrance area is a large square sheltered by a pre-stressed concrete canopy. The idea behind the roof is a sheet of paper laid across two bricks, and the concrete weighs 1,400 tonnes. Visit Lisboa describes the roof as an award-winning piece of engineering, and the building itself received the Prémio Valmor. In 2010 it was designated a Portuguese National Monument, with the category Monument of Public Interest. Seen from far away, the building conveys beauty and strength, and it envelops you as you get closer. When the exhibition ended, the pavilion sat empty while its future was debated. Suggestions included turning it into the headquarters of the Council of Ministers or into an architecture museum. In March 2015 the press reported that it would be sold to settle part of Parque Expo's debt to the State. Two months later, in May 2015, the Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy, Jorge Moreira da Silva, announced that it was being handed to the University of Lisbon, which became responsible for its upkeep. The university intends to be active in education, scientific research and the promotion of knowledge. Plans for the building include an auditorium for 600 people, exhibition rooms, offices, meeting rooms and a restaurant. A rehabilitation and requalification contract was set for 2019 to 2021, with total spending capped at 9.3 million euros, with value-added tax on top. Visit Lisboa says the building will be one of the city's major cultural hubs. The opening hours listed are Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, and the venue is closed on Mondays. Because interior access depends on the programming, check the Visit Lisboa guide to learn whether the exhibition spaces are open on the day. The Oceanário de Lisboa and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento are nearby attractions in Parque das Nações. Gare do Oriente, served by metro, trains and buses, is an easy walk away. Walking around the perimeter shows how different the hanging roof looks from a distance compared with standing under its shade.