TIKVA JEWISH MUSEUM, LISBON

With its slanting, white rendered walls and strong lines, the new Tikva Museum is being built to honour Portugal’s Jewish past, which spans almost 2,000 years. Located just behind the 16th-century Belém Tower on the waterfront, the two buildings could not be more contrasting, although they both represent hugely significant periods in Portugal’s history.

Daniel Libeskind from New York-based Studio Libeskind is the designer and architect behind the project, which is being completed in partnership with local architect Miguel Saraiva.

Tikva is the Hebrew word for hope, and this is exactly what the building symbolises with its grass roof and walkways which, benefitting from the sun’s rays, will symbolise life and the future. The building’s designs show that it will be surrounded by trees to create a peaceful and calming atmosphere. Blue is a theme here, with the traditional azulejo tiles to have a place on each of the five slanted building’s walls.

There’s no doubt this modern building is a bold choice for the area in which it is to be built, but Daniel Libeskind is an international and wellestablished figure in the world of urban design. He was born in Poland in 1946 and immigrated to the USA as a teenager. He is known to have a strong commitment to philosophy and literature. Tikva, which is being built using sustainable technology, is supported by The Lisbon City Hall and Museu Judaico Lisboa, which will oversee its installation and management.