Lisbon Cruise Terminal

Lisbon Cruise Terminal: A Landmark and Gateway to the City

The Lisbon Cruise Terminal serves as both an entry point and a landmark of the city. This large-scale project at the Lisbon port was completed in 2017, with all the concrete pavement and structural areas of the building pigmented using SC Pigments® Black 53.

One of the notable features of the project is the use of cork (a national identity symbol) within the concrete. As Carrilho da Graça was developing the proposal for the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, he realized that the elevation of the project, a critical aspect of the building, had an undesirably high weight. The architect envisioned an innovative concrete that integrated cork while maintaining its structural integrity. Used as a key element of the building’s external cladding, the facades are made of a composite of mixed white concrete. The cork makes a striking statement, evident both in the building’s appearance and structure.

The cork is introduced in granules of different sizes, reducing the material’s mass while preserving the chemical interactions between the concrete’s elements, resulting in a lighter yet still structural material. Numerous tests were conducted, both in the laboratory and during the construction process, to achieve this.

The goal of developing a lightweight concrete that reduced the structure’s weight while maintaining the appropriate level of strength, meeting the project’s structural and architectural requirements, was successfully achieved. Simultaneously, the new material positively impacted the building’s comfort, as cork acts as a thermal insulator. Upon completion, the building is distinguished by a facade that reveals the texture of the cork granules, an effect achieved by wearing down the exterior surface of the concrete. Consequently, the new Lisbon Cruise Terminal stands as a powerful building with a striking aesthetic effect.

Source: Amorim + Carrilho da Graça