Expansion of the National Library of Portugal in Lisbon
Ministry of Culture

The improvement and expansion of the National Library existing facilities, related to the deposit’s expansion and the creation of a new Periodic Room, involves interventions in the existent one (16.500m²) and expansions (12.500m²).

The services’ technological upgrade, namely in the bibliographic references area, imposed a full reorganization of the original paper-based catalog and, at the same time, of the readers login services which implies a deep intervention of about 870m², intervention that is already made and in operation.

In the buildings initial conception, the books’ deposit element housed the retrievable copies at the General Reading Room and one floor intended for Reserved and Manuscripts, being that the special Cartography, Iconography and Music reading spaces functioned in their own places, exterior to the deposit element, in which their respective deposits were incorporated.

A new operation philosophy intends to displace all the specimens to the deposits’ element, providing it with the air treatment conditions and fire hazards protection that the most modern technology allows and advices, which resulted in the need of this element’s expansion combined with a deep technical facilities’ improvement.

Remodeling works were also made in the original canteen and in the employee’s room, now a restaurant and in the new living room which can be used both by the employees and by the readers.

This transformation, which involves the kitchen’s remodeling, covered, in its entirety, an area of about 1.000m².

Owner:

Ministério da Cultura

Location:

Campo Grande

Lisbon

Construction Area:

Ampliação – 12.500m²

Remodelação – 16.500m²

Project:

1996

Conclusion:

2016

Program:

Deposits’ expansion and creation of a new Periodics’ Reading Room, as well as the improvement of several existing spaces, following a new functional philosophy.

Team:

Architecture

– António Pedro Batista Pardal Monteiro – Architect

– João Cottinelli Telmo Pardal Monteiro – Architect

– Manuel Cottinelli Telmo Pardal Monteiro – Architect

– Paulo Vasco Silva Antunes – Architect

– Ana Libório – Architect

– Maria João Garrudo – Architect

– Amadeu Lourenço

– Rodrigo Moutinho

Foundations and Structure

– Paulo Reis – Engineer

Mechanical Equipment and Facilities

– Pavac

Water and Sewage Equipment and Facilities

– A J Prazeres – Engineer

Electrical, Telecommunications and Lifts Equipment and Facilities

– Silvino Maio / Lacerda Moreira – Engineers

Centralized Technical Management

– Silvino Maio / Lacerda Moreira – Engineers