Antarte Center and Antarte Museum opened by Ramos-Horta and Siza Vieira
Mário Rocha, CEO of Antarte, received on April 27th the President of the Republic of Timor-Leste and architect Álvaro Siza Vieira to inaugurate the new Antarte center, which includes a unique museum, which brings together the history of carpentry and the brand Antarte.
The inauguration event of the Antarte Center and the Antarte Museum was attended by the president of the Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize winner, José Ramos-Horta, and the first Portuguese Pritzker Prize winner, the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Unveiling the inauguration plaque for the Antarte Center, which represents an investment of 4.5 million euros, were the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, José Ramos-Horta and Mário Rocha, founder and CEO of Antarte.
The Antarte Museum, a unique museum in Europe, born from Mário Rocha's passion for honoring the history of carpentry, was inaugurated by the first Portuguese Pritzker Prize winner, the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, José Ramos-Horta. The museum represents an investment of 1.4 million euros.
The event, presented by Jorge Gabriel, was attended by personalities from different backgrounds such as journalist and center Carlos Daniel, former Portuguese international and coach Paulo Sousa, world cycling champion Rui Costa, international referee Artur Soares Dias, Chef Chakall, actress Catarina Gouveia, journalist and commentator Carlos Magno, the presidents of the Municipal Councils of Crato and Tabuaço, sculptor Zulmiro de Carvalho, painter Manuel Casal Aguiar and plastic artist Pedro Guimarães.
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Mário Rocha & Jorge Gabriel // Carlos Daniel // Paulo Sousa & Cristina Möhler
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Rui Costa // Artur Soares Dias & Alexandra Martins // Chakall
In his speech to two hundred guests, Mário Rocha considered the Antarte Museum “a dream come true. I started my career in carpentry, which I consider to be the filigree of carpentry. I had the ambition to pay tribute to an ancient craft that was little documented.”
The Nobel Peace Prize winner and President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta praised the dynamism and initiative of Antarte, a private entity, in favor of culture. Likewise, the first Portuguese Pritzker, Siza Vieira praised Antarte's ability to promote a space that enriches Portuguese culture.
Antarte Center completes Antarte's industrial hub
The Antarte Center, which incorporates the upholstery factory, the showroom, an art gallery and the Antarte Museum, completes the Antarte industrial hub which covers more than 19 thousand square meters. Located in Rebordosa, Paredes, it includes the furniture factory, metalworking and logistics center.
Unique museum in Europe
Upon detecting the lack of a museum about the craft of carpentry, Mário Rocha proceeded with the creation of a space that would be a tribute to this ancient craft linked to the progress of civilizations. The new space is of economic importance in the geographical area where Antarte is located and is a cultural legacy for the region and the country.
The collection brings together more than 1000 tools and machines, some of notable antiquity, such as examples from the 18th and 19th centuries, which illustrate the evolution of the craft and the new page in the history of Portuguese furniture, written by Antarte in 25 years of existence.
The museum also offers a unique immersive experience where all Antarte moments and projects can be observed. Open to the public, with free entry, from Tuesday to Sunday, it offers guided tours by appointment.
