Reintroduction of window frames in the Cloister of the National Palace of Pena
During the conversion of the former 16th-century monastery into a palace in the 19th century, Ferdinand II had the cloister galleries enclosed with glazed window frames, transforming them into circulation corridors between the adjoining rooms and incorporating them into the residential areas. In addition to providing greater comfort and privacy, the enclosed galleries contributed to the functional and lived unity of this part of the building, and were also furnished and decorated with objects. The enclosure of the cloister thus represented a decisive stage in the transformation of the former convent into a royal residence.
The window frames were removed in 1938, in the context of an approach to heritage that prioritised the enhancement of the former monastery’s Manueline character. This alteration changed the perception of the cloister as an inhabited interior space of the 19th century and increased the exposure of the adjoining rooms to humidity, temperature variations and draughts. The resulting environmental conditions posed new challenges to the conservation of the building and its collections, and even contributed to the transfer of part of the Palace of Pena’s collection to other locations with more suitable conservation conditions.
The current intervention involves the reintroduction of window frames into the cloister arcades, restoring its configuration as an interior space inhabited by the Portuguese royal family. At the same time, the intervention will improve the conservation conditions of the building and its integrated heritage, deepen understanding of the Palace’s historical development and provide a more complete interpretation of its role as a 19th-century royal residence.
Rather than simply recreating an image of the past, the project seeks to highlight the different historical layers that make up the monument, restoring a documented atmosphere to the cloister galleries and integrating it into the museum experience of the National Palace of Pena.
Conservation and sustainability
The reintroduction of the window frames will help improve the environmental conditions of the adjoining spaces by reducing their direct exposure to rain, humidity, draughts and temperature variations. This measure is particularly relevant for a monument located in the Sintra Hills, an area characterised by high rainfall and significant fluctuations in environmental conditions.
The intervention will therefore contribute to greater hygrothermal stability within the spaces and to the long-term conservation of the building, its integrated heritage and collections, combining heritage protection with objectives of climate resilience and sustainability.
Heritage and museum coherence
The recovery of the cloister as an interior space will deepen understanding of the Palace of Pena as a 19th-century royal residence, highlighting the transformation of the former monastery and the adaptation of its spaces to the daily life of the royal family.
The intervention will also restore the reading of the galleries as inhabited and decorated spaces, enabling a more integrated presentation of the movable and integrated heritage and enriching the visitor experience. In this way, the intervention brings together conservation, research, interpretation and dissemination, reinforcing the Palace’s museum function and contributing to the transmission of its heritage value to future generations.
Intervention methodology
The intervention is based on the reintroduction of metal window frames, designed using contemporary materials and techniques and integrated with the other existing metal frames in the Palace. The solution seeks to respect the documented historical configuration without creating a mimetic reproduction, allowing the contemporary intervention to remain clearly distinguishable from the pre-existing structures.
Three fundamental principles guide the intervention:
- Reversibility – the new window frames will be installed so that they can be removed without causing damage to the original structure;
- Aesthetic and material compatibility – the proportions, materials and formal characteristics of the solution will draw on historical documentation and the existing window frames in the Palace;
- Legibility of the intervention’s time layer – the intervention will incorporate discreet contemporary elements, making it possible to distinguish the historical heritage from the present-day intervention.
Strategic framework
The project directly contributes to several of Parques de Sintra’s strategic objectives for 2025–2027, in particular:
- 2. Understanding and recovery of heritage: The intervention is grounded in research into the building’s historical development and seeks to recover a documented dimension of the Palace, reconciling authenticity, conservation, reversibility and high-quality public access.
- 1. Distinctive cultural and tourism offering: Restoring the cloister’s character as an inhabited space will enrich the visitor experience and provide a more complete and authentic understanding of the National Palace of Pena and the daily life of the royal family in the 19th century.
- 4. Climate resilience and biodiversity: Improving the environmental conditions of the spaces contributes to the adaptation of the built heritage to the climatic conditions of the Serra de Sintra and to its long-term conservation.
- 5. Innovation, sustainability and quality management: The adoption of a contemporary, reversible and materially compatible solution demonstrates the integration of innovation and good conservation practices, promoting a sustainable and technically grounded intervention.
Taken together, these principles ensure that the intervention is understood not simply as an act of reconstruction, but as an integrated action of heritage conservation, research and enhancement, strengthening the National Palace of Pena’s capacity to transmit the complexity of its history and the successive transformations that shaped the monument we know today to future generations.