Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves hosted a cello and piano recital on May 23, promoted by the Turkish Embassy in Portugal, as part of the centenary celebrations of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Portugal and Turkey and the closing of the week dedicated to International Museum Day. For the event, HCG collaborated in setting the atmosphere of the museum’s terrace by providing plants placed in white Horto Collection planters, helping to create a natural and welcoming setting for the concert.
Housed in the former Casa Malhoa, the current Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves is one of Lisbon’s landmark museum spaces. The building, designed by Norte Júnior between 1904 and 1905 as a residence and studio for painter José Malhoa, received the Valmor Prize in 1905 and was considered the first purpose-built artist’s house in the capital. In 1932, the property was acquired by physician and collector António Anastácio Gonçalves, who lived there and assembled an extensive collection of art and decorative arts.
Bequeathed to the Portuguese State after the collector’s death, the house became a public museum in 1980. The collection currently comprises around three thousand pieces, distributed across different sections, including 19th and 20th century Portuguese painting, Chinese porcelain, Portuguese and foreign furniture, sculpture, goldsmithing, textiles, ceramics, European painting, and decorative arts. In 1996, the space was expanded and renovated through a project by architects Frederico and Pedro George, strengthening the areas dedicated to welcoming visitors and temporary exhibitions.
It was precisely on the terrace of this historic building that the recital took place, performed by Burak Özkan on cello and Bernardo Santos on piano. The program featured works by composers such as Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Antonín Dvořák, and Astor Piazzolla, blending European classical repertoire with contemporary and traditional influences.
Horto do Campo Grande’s intervention sought to complement the cultural and architectural character of the space, enhancing the audience’s experience through a discreet and integrated plant presence. The white Horto Collection planters were used to frame the concert area and reinforce the intimate atmosphere of the terrace, without compromising the heritage character of the building.
“This was a particularly interesting event due to the connection between heritage, music, and plant decoration. We sought to create a natural setting that complemented the concert atmosphere and the identity of the space, contributing to a more comfortable and engaging experience for the audience,” says Patrícia Brízida, Landscape Architect, head of the Outdoor Maintenance Department at Horto do Campo Grande.
© Companhia das Cores for Horto do Campo Grande
