Betar

The renovation and expansion of the Palácio Condes da Ribeira Grande, which gave rise to MACAM in Lisbon, was completed with architectural design by Metro Urbe and structures by Betar and was awarded the “Prémio Gulbenkian Património – Maria Tereza and Vasco Vilalva 2025”.

The jury, chaired by António Lamas, unanimously selected the winning renovation project, as it is “one of Lisbon’s most important palatial buildings from the mid-18th century.”

Created in 2007 in honor of Vasco Vilalva, this award aims to recognize exemplary interventions in movable and immovable assets of cultural value that encourage the preservation and restoration of heritage.

The palace and the new buildings, both designed by architect João Pedras, which, according to the jury, created “a captivating balance between heritage preservation and restoration and the structural, functional, and aesthetic demands of the new facilities,” house the MACAM – Armando Martins Museum of Contemporary Art, a 5-star hotel, and a bar dedicated to live music and performing arts.

The renovation of Lisbon’s newest contemporary art museum was a very challenging challenge for the Betar team, as it is a building considered a World Heritage Site. Therefore, it was necessary to maintain and reinforce the facades, floors, ceilings, and most of the interior stone masonry walls, in order to find the balance between preserving the palace’s characteristics and adapting it to the program.