Lisbon’s Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, the country’s only opera house with uninterrupted activity since the 18th century, is now in the midst of a comprehensive €17 million restoration and modernisation programme. The works, being delivered by engineering and construction firm Cari, represent one of the most significant cultural rehabilitation projects currently underway in Portugal.
The intervention forms the second phase of a wider conservation, restoration and modernisation plan designed by architect João Mendes Ribeiro and Atelier 15, and promoted by OPART – Organismo de Produção Artística. Funding has been secured through Portugal’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), underscoring the national priority placed on safeguarding architectural heritage while improving cultural infrastructure.
Cari’s scope of work includes extensive structural reinforcement and seismic upgrading, as well as the conservation and restoration of emblematic areas such as the public circulation spaces, foyer, noble hall, corridors, café, ticket office, stage, orchestra pit and fly tower. The aim is to enhance safety, durability and performance while retaining the historic fabric and theatre identity that define the building.
A hallmark of the project is its use of BIM technology to create an integrated digital twin of the theatre. Supported by laser scanning and photogrammetric recording, the 3D model enables millimetre-level precision in mapping and coordinating all architectural, structural, mechanical and heritage elements — a critical tool when operating within a centuries-old monument.
This phase of works will focus on the theatre’s principal spaces, including façades, roofs, circulation areas, the royal box, auditorium boxes and stage systems. The intervention also prepares the building for new technical infrastructures and contemporary performance requirements, ensuring the theatre can meet modern standards without compromising historical authenticity.
Rui Alves, production director at Cari, highlighted the significance of the project, noting: “The rehabilitation of the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos is one of the most demanding and emblematic works in our portfolio. It represents a major technical and logistical challenge, but also a commitment to the country’s history and cultural identity. For Cari, it is a privilege to help restore vitality to a space that belongs to all Portuguese people, combining engineering precision with the sensitivity required to preserve a monument of this importance.”