The interplay of volumes in the Centre's structure preserves the urban integrity of the city, creating a close connection with the church of Senhor dos Aflitos and the Praça das Pocinhas. At the same time, the building unites contemporary architecture with the traditions of the Portuguese Romanesque style.
Volumes of different sizes form a single whole, reflecting the architectural diversity of the Romanesque. Each of them contains a separate exhibition space, entered through the inner courtyard. The courtyard's glass roof lets in natural light, binding the complex even further into a single space. Inside, the monumentality of the interior, including ceilings that follow the outlines of Romanesque vaults, heightens the sense of a journey into the past. Completing the symbiosis of past and present, the facades are made of concrete with a natural texture, echoing the materiality of the historic buildings.
