Museum of Light

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Évora > Mourão > Luz > Nova Luz

Location

Located in the Nova Luz area, adjacent to the town of Luz and in close proximity to the vast area of the Alqueva lake, the museum benefits from a location that directly engages with the transformed landscape. The building seeks to integrate into the surrounding natural environment.

A particularly striking view is obtained from certain windows, where one can glimpse a hill that was part of the village's original landscape and which now emerges from the reflective surface of the lake, remaining a point of reference.

Memory of a Submerged Village

The museum is fundamentally a space of memory and identity linked to the history of the old village of Luz. This original settlement was submerged due to the construction of the Alqueva dam, leading to the relocation of its inhabitants to a new locality.

The museum was conceived to interpret and document this process of profound transformation, addressing the impact on the landscape and people's lives, and reactivating the memories of the submerged place. It is a space that reflects on the change and continuity of a community.

Exploring Memory and Landscape

As one walks through the museum space, the visitor finds elements that tell the story and daily life of the old village. The collection includes objects recovered from the daily lives of its inhabitants.

Furthermore, the museum presents exhibitions that explore themes such as community identity, its past history and its relationship with the surrounding landscape, especially after the arrival of the Alqueva waters. It is a place that invites one to understand the multiple layers of meaning of this transformed territory.

A Building Integrated into the Landscape

The building itself, which houses the Museum of Luz, is an element of interest. Its architecture, utilizing schist, a common material in the region, was designed to integrate naturally and respectfully into the Alentejo landscape, next to the lake.

This distinctive design was even recognized for its design concept and for the way it reflects the museum's relationship with the territory and its history.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt