Of millenial settling, the first evidences on the site corresponded of olive oil mills. Right by the river Nabão, the ‘Levada’ - a detour on the water course - was used to run the machinery of the mills. The current situation did not present virtually any trace of this ancient memory, with all the remaining buildings being occupied by workshops and other activities established during the Industrial Revolution. Other sections of the complex became power plants and cereal mills, also taking advantage of the running water.

The proposal is preceded by a profound museological study, in order to avoid formal prominences and to respect the image of the ensemble, deeply connected with the old town center of Tomar. This Industrial Complex is composed by three different cores of buildings, formally coherent, namely the Olive Presses, the Electric Plants, and the Mills.

The program foresees not only the musealization of each core, as well as a multi-purpose room, an interpretive center, exhibition gallery, cafeteria and museum services. The new additions are restricted to the bare minimum. It is proposed, as well, a new pedestrian bridge over the river, in order to establish a much more direct connection to the car parking, and a new perspective on arrival to the site.