Bernardes Arquitetura Redefines Cultural Travel in Portugal

The Brazilian architecture firm's Albuquerque Foundation in Sintra blends seamlessly into the landscape, inviting a more mindful exploration.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly geometric, Art Deco-inspired illustration depicting the sweeping, smooth forms of the Albuquerque Foundation's architecture as it emerges from the lush, rolling hills of Sintra, Portugal. Vibrant shades of earthy green, ochre, and deep blue evoke the natural setting.The Albuquerque Foundation's seamless integration with the Sintra landscape invites a more immersive and contemplative cultural experience.Albuquerque Today

Bernardes Arquitetura, led by Brazilian architect Thiago Bernardes, has transformed a historic quinta in Sintra, Portugal into the Albuquerque Foundation, a cultural destination that prioritizes immersive experience over visual spectacle. The project's design embeds the building into the sloping terrain, creating a journey of discovery that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Why it matters

In an era of travel experiences designed for social media, the Albuquerque Foundation offers a refreshing counterpoint, inviting visitors to slow down and engage more deeply with their surroundings. Bernardes' approach challenges the conventional notion of cultural destinations as objects to be consumed, instead positioning architecture as a transformative agent that can inspire new ways of seeing and relating to the world.

The details

The Albuquerque Foundation, commissioned by collector Renato de Albuquerque and his granddaughter Mariana A. Teixeira de Carvalho, integrates a historic house with a newly designed wing to create a seamless experience. Bernardes' team carefully considered the site's topography, climate, and local materials, threading new pavilions into the slope rather than imposing a rigid structure. Visitors descend into galleries carved into the hillside, emerge into courtyards, and cross thresholds that blur the boundaries between inside and outside, encouraging a more mindful exploration of the space.

  • The Albuquerque Foundation opened in the summer of 2025.
  • The foundation is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend (August 17, 2026).

The players

Bernardes Arquitetura

A Brazilian architecture firm founded by Thiago Bernardes in 2012, with a focus on creating site-specific, environmentally harmonious designs that prioritize human experience.

Renato de Albuquerque

The Brazilian collector who commissioned the Albuquerque Foundation to house his extensive collection of Ming and Qing dynasty porcelain.

Mariana A. Teixeira de Carvalho

The granddaughter of Renato de Albuquerque, who collaborated with him on the Albuquerque Foundation project.

Jacopo Crivelli Visconti

The director and curator of the Albuquerque Foundation, who oversees the institution's programming and exhibitions.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The local environment plays a central role in our design approach. It is the topography and the local climate that dictate what a project should become.”

— Thiago Bernardes, Founder, Bernardes Arquitetura

“We believe in architecture as a transforming agent—one that can inspire harmony in relationships.”

— Thiago Bernardes, Founder, Bernardes Arquitetura

What’s next

The Albuquerque Foundation will host a series of artist residencies and temporary exhibitions throughout the coming year, exploring the intersection of contemporary art, ceramics, and sustainable design.

The takeaway

The Albuquerque Foundation's immersive, landscape-driven approach to cultural tourism offers a refreshing alternative to the conventional model, inviting visitors to engage more deeply with their surroundings and experience the world at a slower, more mindful pace.