The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon recently reopened following an 18-month, $7.8 million renovation. The refurbishment's primary goal was to return the museum's display spaces "as much as possible to its original 1969 state," according to Xavier Salomon, the museum's director. This extensive project coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, which inherited the estate of the Armenian tycoon and collector Calouste Gulbenkian, considered one of the wealthiest men globally at his death in 1955.
The renovation, led by architects Teresa Nunes da Ponte and Frédéric Ladonne, focused on overhauling essential systems like security, fire safety, ventilation, and lighting. It also incorporated modern enhancements such as anti-reflective glass and LED lighting throughout the exhibits. Despite the upgrades, the museum maintains a deliberate absence of multimedia screens, emphasizing short, concise labels to preserve its 1969 aesthetic and the unique relationship between art, architecture, and nature.
Key changes include the restoration of original architectural materials like silk wall coverings, wood, and bronze. The museum's original circular route, dividing collections into Antiquity, Asia, and Europe, was preserved. Notable improvements include the return of Mamluk mosque lamps to individual vitrines in the Islamic world section and a more practical, multi-access zigzagging display case in the Asia galleries. A new numismatic cabinet was created from a former study to display coins, and the Assyrian winged-guardian relief was moved to a more prominent position. The René Lalique Room was also transformed with silk hangings, showcasing Art Nouveau and Art Deco glassware and jewelry alongside paintings by Edward Burne-Jones and John Singer Sargent.
The museum's reopening aims to strengthen its international profile, as it houses a finite collection of over 6,000 objects, with 1,000 in the permanent display, personally selected by Calouste Gulbenkian. The renovation efforts ensure that the museum's brutalist architecture and the harmony between its interior spaces and surrounding gardens are once again highlighted, with features like greenish carpeting connecting to the external greenery and filtering films protecting pieces while maintaining garden views.
