Architecture, modernity and environmental collapse: A brief history of the tagus oysterpurification station (1954–1971)

• Autores: Diego Inglez de Souza
• Localización: La modernidad marítima: arquitecturas e infraestructuras del paisaje litoral, 1925-1975 : Actas XIII Congreso Docomomo Ibérico ,A Coruña, 22-26 de octubre de 2025 / coord. por Fundación Docomomo ibérico, 2025, ISBN 978-84-09-77104-2, págs. 232-241
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Arquitectura, modernidad y colapso ambiental: Una breve historia de la estación de depuración de ostras del tajo (1954-1971)
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• Resumen

  • Built in the early 1950s on the southern bank of the Tagus River estuary, in the town of Rosário, the TagusOyster Purification Station was part of the Estado Novo’s policy aimed at exploiting Portugal’s marineresources. Inaugurated in 1954, the station served as the headquarters for an institution created in 1951with the goal of ensuring the quality of oysters from the Crassostrea angulata species, commonly known asthe “Portuguese oyster.” Though originally from the Pacific Ocean, this species adapted well to the Iberianestuaries, gaining a strong reputation in international markets.The main function of this facility was to remove biological agents and pathogenic microorganisms thathad negatively affected the image of Portuguese oysters abroad. At the same time, it sought to stimulatedomestic consumption of this species, which had already been highly appreciated in markets such as theBritish and French since the 19th century, following the depletion of the North Sea oyster beds, which hadbeen heavily exploited by trawl fishing. The architectural complex built on Rosário beach consisted of two circular tanks, a tower for pumpingwater from the Tagus River, and a warehouse for handling oysters, along with accommodations for a watchman.The design was driven by function, although the decorative details deviated from what was conventionallyknown as modern architecture, aligning more with the “Portuguese suave” style, which characterized muchof the architectural production of the state during the early decades of the dictatorship.Despite its strategic role in the oyster trade, the increasing pollution of the Tagus River, particularlydue to the use of protective paints on ships, contributed to the species’ decline. As a result, the PurificationStation ceased operations in 1971. More than a reflection of modern architectural principles on the coastline,the short lifespan of this infrastructure reveals the limits and rapid failure of this modernization project,which was reliant on the exploitation of natural resources and the marine ecosystem.In this paper, in addition to presenting the architectural complex, we aim to analyze its developmentfrom a broader perspective, considering the impacts of this infrastructure on marine ecosystems, whichultimately contributed to the depletion of the natural resources it was designed to manage.