Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia, MAAT)
The Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) is located not far from Jeronimos Monastery in the Belem district of western Lisbon.
It is housed in a former red-brick coal-powered Tejo power station that was formerly the Museum of Electricity (Museu da Electricidade) and once provided power for the whole of Lisbon.
History
The Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia now includes a new, tiled building on the River Tagus waterfront designed by the British architect Amanda Levete and houses exhibits on modern art, architecture and technology, with the centerpiece still the amazing power station and its original machinery, much of it manufactured in Glasgow.
Visitors can tour the various rooms and their giant pieces of machinery where the processes involved in power generation took place. Signage in both Portuguese and English offers comprehensive explanations and there are video quizzes for kids and hands-on scientific games at the end of your walk around the vast space.
The Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia juxtaposes pieces of modern art next to the historic machinery of the power station as well as displaying art exhibitions in separate galleries.
Exhibits
The collections of the Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia contain works by mainly 20th century Portuguese artists such as Gabriela Albergaria, Vasco Araújo, Manuel Baptista, Miguel Soares and Susanne S. D. Themlitz.
Other recent temporary based exhibitions include the work of the UK-based Portuguese photographer Edgar Martins and videos, short films and animations by a variety of European artists such as Igor Bošnjak, Eva & Franco Mattes, Rohini Devasher and Karin Sander. Amanda Levete's new building opened in October 2016 with an installation titled "Pynchon Park" by French artist Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster.
As well as its exhibitions, MAAT provides theoretical and practical arts courses and workshops held on weekends and evenings which are open to members of the public.
The museum also has a gift shop and lockers. There are great views over the River Tagus from the building's roof.
Access & Hours
Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia (www.maat.pt)
Av. Brasília, Central Tejo
1300-598 Lisboa
Tel: (+351) 210 028 130.
Hours: The Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia is open from 10 am to 7 pm.
Closed on Tuesdays as well as 25 December, 1 January and 1 May.
Admission: 9 Euros.
Buses: #728, #714, #727, #729 or #751. Tram: #15 from Cais do Sodre. Train: From Cascais or Cais do Sodre on the Cascais Line get out at Belém Station; Ferry: From Porto Brandaõ and Trafaria on the south side of the River Tagus to Estação Fluvial de Belém.
Nearby
MAAT is within easy walking distance of the Palácio de Belém and the Museu da Presidencia da Republica.
Nearby hotels in Belém include the 5-star Altis Belem Hotel & Spa, the 4-star Hotel Jeronimos 8, the 5-star Palacio do Governador, and the 5-star Pestana Palace Lisboa Hotel.
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