Algés VTS Tower

Category: Military Architecture > Tower

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Algés > Baixa de Algés

Location

Located in Baixa de Algés, in the town of Algés, Oeiras municipality, the VTS Tower rises at the end of a pier, standing out unmistakably in the riverside landscape of the Tagus estuary. Its prominent position offers a privileged perspective on the movement of waters and vessels crossing the river, establishing a striking visual connection between the land and the vast fluvial expanse. It is an easily identifiable landmark on Algés' coastline.

Architecture and Presence in the Landscape

Designed by the renowned architect Gonçalo Byrne and inaugurated in 2001, the Algés VTS Tower is a structure with a modern and unique design. Its vertical silhouette, partly clad in pre-oxidized copper sheets and lioz stone on the ground floor, contrasts with the blue sky and the vastness of the estuary. The tower's form evokes the idea of a surveillance and control point, integrating itself, in a contemporary manner, into the tradition of other edifices that, throughout history, have marked the relationship between Lisbon and its river.

The Essence of a River Watch

Beyond its aesthetic value, the Algés VTS Tower houses a center of vital importance for the safety and coordination of maritime traffic in the Tagus estuary. From this location, navigation is monitored and advised for a vast area, from the Vasco da Gama Bridge to the approach to the port of Lisbon. This function gives the tower the role of an 'attentive eye' over the river, ensuring a safe flow of vessels and contributing to the protection of the riverside environment. Its presence symbolizes technology and human control at the service of navigation, acting as a kind of high-tech lighthouse that monitors and guides the intense aquatic movement.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt