In 2019, after acquiring land between CAM and Rua Marquês de Fonteira, the Foundation launched a design competition for the extension of the Garden and the renovation of CAM.

The programme called for the remodelling of CAM building to reflect its renewed centrality, the creation of a refreshed image in harmony with the Garden, and an expansion of the exhibition spaces.

The proposal by architect Kengo Kuma, with landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic, stood out for its vast canopy along the entire south façade of the building – an architectural element known in Japan as an engawa.

Its complex design required the collaboration of a large team of architects, engineers, specialists and consultants, with laboratory testing and even the construction of a full-scale model of part of the structure to trial the proposed solutions.