MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology

If you travel to Lisbon, as well as exploring its streets on one of its trams, you should not miss a visit to the Belém neighbourhood. It is currently home to some of the most important contemporary spaces in the city, such as the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower. And among the rest of the buildings, the MAAT stands out. Since its inauguration, it has become a reference point in the Portuguese city for lovers of architecture and art.

The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), inaugurated in 2016, is located on the banks of the Tagus River. This emblematic building is a nod to the country's history, as it is reminiscent of sailing, thanks to its undulating silhouette. Its curved, elongated façade is made up of a partially three-dimensional mosaic covered with some 15,000 white ceramic tiles, which react to changes in light and reflections in the water. Inside, with a structure that sinks into the ground and houses the four exhibition galleries, one of which, and the most impressive, is oval in shape.

For access to the museum, Manusa automatic doors were installed, which opened to allow entry and exit. As there was not much space available, two single-slide opening doors were installed in the same corridor. One allowed the entrance and the other the exit from the museum. In this case, the sliding leaves were placed on the fixed panel in the middle, so that each side leaf is in turn located on the outside of the fixed panel and on the inside of the fixed panel respectively. An ingenious solution to allow a fluid passage in a corridor with a limited opening.