The Head Office and Garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation are easily visitable from the nearby metro station: São Sebastião. Arriving mid-evening, numerous locals were enjoying this green space with blanket spreads, picnics, or just people lying down on the beautiful grounds. 

The Garden Landscape

The garden is pleasant indeed, with bamboo, a trickling brook that dissects the grounds (plenty of turtles, ducks), and modern statues surrounded by green foliage. This was a highlight for me since we had spent considerable time exploring Lisbon during the morning, evening, and night (often quite busy). Therefore, this little slice of green mixed with modern architecture was a breath of fresh air. Several statues throughout the garden made this space feel like an open-air exhibit.

Mega Structures

Certainly, the use of massive concrete structures here stands out. In some ways, the greenery has enveloped the large modernist structures, creating a unique interaction of the man-made and natural components. Of the criteria with the most potential (criteria iv): 'The Property represents synthesis of the modernity between constructed landscape and architectural interiors, mega structure, geometric topography, creating a transition between the built landscape and nature, in continuity.'

In the Comparative Analysis, the Getty Center in Los Angeles is highlighted! Not exclusively, but I found this interesting. Maybe in a few decades the US would consider the Getty Center. Nevertheless, several other important works from modernist architects of the 20th century are mentioned. I am not sure how The Head Office and Garden of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation contributes to modern architecture already on the list, but I enjoyed my visit regardless.

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