A work that preserves history – Macau Pavilion

In this article, we take a trip back in time to the facade of Ruins of Saint Paul’s, one of Macau‘s most emblematic monuments.

The Macau Pavilion at Expo 98, which includes a replica of this facade, was dismantled and rebuilt in the Adão Barata Park, in Loures, in 2004.

Prudêncio‘s team worked carefully to preserve this symbolic building, so that you may continue to appreciate its significance and its current artistic function.

The History

The old church of Mother of God and the annexed St. Paul’s College, built by the jesuits in Macau, date back to the 16th century.

In 1835, a fire devastated this monumental architectural complex, saving only the imposing granite facade and the church’s 68-step staircase.

The Ruins of Saint Paul, as they are known today, is a unique example of baroque architecture in China and is part of the monuments of the Historic Centre of Macau. They are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list and were classified in 2009 as one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.

Near the facade are the archaeological remains of the former St. Paul’s College which bear witness to what was once the first Western-style university in the Far East, with an extensive academic program, including theology, mathematics, geography, chinese, portuguese, latin and astronomy, among other subjects.

Ruins of St. Paul's, Macau — Ruins of St. Paul’s, Macau

The Destiny

Buildings are a legacy of our past and their preservation is part of preserving the heritage of our cities.

Twenty years ago, during Expo 98, the Macau Pavilion and its facade were a great success in Parque das Nações, in Lisbon.

Although it remained active for a few months, the entire structure of the pavilion was dismantled and transferred in 2004 to the City Park in Loures, the result of meticulous work and calculations to adapt it to its new use/purpose: Vieira da Silva Municipal Gallery.

Installed in the second floor, the Gallery was created with the purpose of promoting the democratization of art and to bring people closer to cultural spaces, through the exhibition of works of art by artists recognized both nationally and internationally.

In order to preserve the integrity of this building, our team was assigned to carry out the rehabilitation of its roof. Read on to learn more about this great challenge!

The Challenge

The gallery had several water ingress problems that resulted from the multiple configurations of the roof. This is composed of two higher blocks connected to the lower console by eight vertical areas.

In turn, this same bracket that surrounds the entire building, as well as the roofs of the upper areas, had several common weaknesses in metallic roofs, namely:

Discontinuity in gutters, window sills and other elements;
Ineffective finishes;
Advanced corrosion;
Several thermal bridges.

The Result

Buildings can be easily damaged by water infiltrations originating from roofs, which cause great damage if not discovered and properly treated in time.

The rehabilitation solution that Prudencio implemented is based on a proven system that protected this emblematic building.

The vulnerability to rainwater and the problem of thermal bridges were definitely solved through a system that ensures total watertightness, either by the solution of continuity, or by the quality of thermal insulation and waterproofing membranes used.

We have many years of experience in waterproofing roofs and these unique challenges motivate us in a special way!