MAC’S STRUCTURE

In October 1995, MAC was forced to close to the public due to the construction work on the Lisbon Underground system under the building, which was a great risk for the architectural structure. Extensive work was done to conserve the monument, which meant that MAC had to be taken down completely and then totally restructured. It only reopened in June 2001.

This operation involved the following stages:
1. A brief inventory and photographic survey of the MAC collections;
2. The complete dismantling of the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo and storage of the collection in the old vestry, because it was the safest area of the building;
3. The archaeological excavation of all five of the old chapels and part of the central nave;
4. The placement of about 150 micropyles round the old chapels and the transept to reinforce the foundations;
5. The shoring and reinforcement of the arches of the nave;
6. The installation of a layer of waterproofing over the whole of the nave;
7. The Replacement of flooring in the whole area of the old church;
8. Putting up MAC again.

The first five stages were completed in 1996, while the others were only finished in 2000.

As part of the Operational Plan for Culture, the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo was thoroughly renovated, which included the following operations:
1. Cleaning, conservation and restoration of the whole collection by qualified technicians, who specialised in working with stone, wood, decorative tiles and painting;
2. An exhaustive study of the collection by a team of more than 30 specialists from many different areas;
3. The installation of a new lighting system for the building and its collection;
4. The construction of a comfortable, adequately-sized reception structure;
5. The refurbishment and extension of the sanitary installations for the public and the staff;
6. The renewal of the services supporting staff and visitors;
7. The creation of a space for a bookshop/shop;
8. The increase and upgrading of the permanent staff, including the creation of the position of Curator;
9. A Musealisation Project designed by the architect, Mário Varela Gomes;
10.The complete reassembly of the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo;
11. The publication of an exhaustive catalogue of the permanent collections of the Museu Arqueológico do Carmo;
12. The creation of an Educational Service.

The objectives of this project were fully achieved and even exceeded. In fact, in only 15 years, the number of visitors, and corresponding revenue, went from 20,000 before remodelling to the 170,000 reached in 2015.