A story about Lisbon’s energy: Museu da eletricidade — Central Tejo
As a science enthusiast, I naturally opted for a technical museum and therefore visited the Museu da Eletricidade — Central Tejo. This museum, housed in a former thermoelectric power station, presented an unique opportunity to explore the history of electricity generation and the role it has played in shaping Lisbon as a modern city.
In contrast to traditional art museums, the exhibition focuses on practical and technical aspects, showcasing the beautiful intricacies of the machinery that once powered the city. This resonants best with my personal interests, because I would consider myself not a typical “artsy” person. While most people prefer to read novels and fantasy books before going to sleep, I tend to bury myself in non-fiction, astronomy and economics.
One specific piece that caught my eye was the well-preserved steam boiler room that illuminated the major difficulties as well as triumphs of generating electricity in the past century. It shows the engineering feats of its time, standing as a testament to human ingenuity and determination. Just imaging what the workers had to endure: All the blood, sweat and detrimental health consequences. This makes me appreciate the comforts of everyday life even more.
While paintings and sculptures receive most praise these days, I find technology equally moving and appealing. It reminds me of how hard people worked to generate energy, how essential it is to our lives, and how much progress humanity made over recent decades. It can be seen as an engineering marvel and should be honoured accordingly in my opinion.
Some aspects that I found subpar about the exhibition were the lack of a clear beginning and end, the storytelling can definitly be improved upon in the future. Yet, my visit to the Museu da Eletricidade — Central Tejo was an enlightening experience that deepened my appreciation for the technical aspects of energy production. The boiler room showcased the hard work, ingenuity, and determination needed to generate electricity, emphasizing energy’s critical role in our world.
Even though this experience might be an oddball for some — there are parallels I can draw to our “Design Thinking for Social Innovation” course. Much like the design thinking process, engineering involves constant iterations and improvements to existing designs, even in technical fields like energy production. The boiler exemplified how engineers continually refined and adapted their creations to better serve the energy needs of Lisbon.
In conclusion, energy should be considered a basic right, as it is essential for personal interactions and the functioning of our society. Access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy not only enables people to connect with each other, but it also serves as a catalyst for economic growth. By understanding the history and development of energy production, we must apply design thinking principles to address climate change and its unprecedented challenges to create innovative solutions that ensure energy access for all. This approach promotes social equity and ultimately will enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities worldwide.
