Lifeboat Station

The lifeboat station (1951) is a concrete structure with stilts and a ramp, feautures that enable it to launch boats at both low tide (baixamar) and hgh tide (preiamar). It's a great little example of classic modernist utilitarian architecture.

It is located in the middle of the Ria Formosa estuary is due to be turned into a small museum. Olhão Council has announced the completion of an architecture study which, it says, will be “essential” to the renovation project.

The renovation work will involve improving the structural integrity of the building, carrying out architectural and functional improvements and turning it into a small museum, run by the municipal museum of Olhão.

Considering the lifeboat station is located in the middle of the Ria Formosa estuary, visiting the museum would have to involve a boat trip to reach it. The lifeboat station (officially Estação de Socorros a Náufragos da Fuseta) was built during Portugal’s Estado Novo authoritarian regime in the second half of the 20th century.

Photo: @bertolucci - AurelioZen (flickr)