Design Museum

MUDE, the Design Museum in Lisbon (Museu do Design), stands at Rua Augusta 24 in the heart of the Baixa district. It is a museum of design and fashion housed in the former headquarters of the Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the bank that financed Portugal's colonial empire.

What kind of museum is it?

MUDE treats design broadly: furniture and everyday objects, graphics and publications, contemporary jewellery and clothing. Its core is the collection of Francisco Capelo, a Portuguese collector who began assembling it in the 1990s. The objects date from 1937 to the end of the 20th century. In 1999 his design holdings were shown at the Centro Cultural de Belém as a Design Museum. In 2002 the City of Lisbon took over part of the collection, and by 2006 both the design and fashion holdings were in public ownership.

What is the story of the building?

The building was constructed as a bank and became its headquarters in the 1920s. It was extended later: Luís Cristino da Silva led the second intervention, and António Garcia and Daciano da Costa the third. The grand banking-era interiors are part of the appeal today.

When did it open, and what changed?

The museum opened in 2009 as a temporary venue and ran that way until 2016, when major works began. The building reopened to the public on 25 July 2024. After the renovation it gained a rooftop restaurant and an auditorium.

Whose work is on display?

The collection includes work by around 230 designers. Design is represented by Charles and Ray Eames, Le Corbusier, Tom Dixon and Philippe Starck. Fashion names include Yves Saint Laurent, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Christian Dior, Chanel, Vivienne Westwood and Versace.

The holdings are organised into six typological groups: scene, editorial, graphic, fashion, contemporary jewellery, and product together with interiors. In total they span 23 collections.

Frequently asked questions

Where is MUDE? At Rua Augusta 24 in central Lisbon's Baixa, close to the main walking routes through the old town.

Is it the same as the Design Museum in London? No. It is a separate institution, built around Francisco Capelo's collection and Portuguese design context.

Is it worth visiting if I am not into design? Yes. The former bank building and the views from the new rooftop are reasons enough, and the well-known names in the collection make the subject easy to enter.

When should I go? Check opening hours and ticket prices on the official site, mude.pt, before your visit.