“Inhabiting the Monument”

Convent basification and explorative design

The Convento de Cristo is located on the most prominent ridge of the city of Tomar, in central Portugal. This iconic building is recognizable for the various additions it has undergone over the centuries and for the multiple functions that have been established here.

The vast complex, consisting of chapels, cloisters, and buildings, experienced five main phases of transformations from the 12th century (starting from the first circular oratory, also known as the Templar "Charola") until the last major addition in the early 17th century. Today, it is designated as a National Monument and serves recreational and cultural functions.

The theme of this Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) is to propose strategies for anchoring the convent in daily life: moving from an isolated national monument to a vibrant structure of contemporary collective life. Students from various European partners are invited, through lectures, visits, and design studios, to produce different transformation scenarios for the Convento de Cristo.