Restoration of the Belém Tower, Lisbon
The Catari US® multidirectional system was the scaffolding solution chosen to cover the entire façade of one of the most important and iconic monuments in Lisbon and Portugal.
Location
Lisbon
Year
2025
System used
Total area
3600 m2
A national monument. A first-class intervention. A system that rises to the occasion.
The Belém Tower, an iconic landmark of Portuguese identity and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is currently undergoing a conservation and restoration intervention. For this project of great responsibility, the Catari US® multidirectional scaffolding system was chosen to surround and support its emblematic façade.
This project, led by N Restauros Conservação e Restauro Lda., represents more than just a construction undertaking — it is a commitment to history, culture, and the future.
The Catari US® multidirectional scaffolding system was selected for its versatility, strength, and ability to adapt to irregular geometries. The Belém Tower – with its turrets, sentry boxes, bastions, curves, and protrusions – required a system capable of closely following and embracing every architectural detail.
Approximately 3,600 m² of scaffolding structure were assembled, including towers and auxiliary platforms used as support yards.
All access points were built using access decks, strategically complemented by staircase towers in key areas, ensuring both safety and smooth vertical circulation.
Ongoing challenge: uneven ground and submerged scaffolding
One of the most demanding aspects of this project was, without a doubt, the tower’s proximity to the River Tagus and the direct impact of tides and waves. The base of the tower is partially submerged at certain times of the day, which complicated both the scaffolding installation and its overall stability.
The uneven terrain — made up of rocks of varying sizes and areas without viable ground support — required the use of suspended scaffolding. In these critical zones, console brackets were anchored directly to the masonry of the bastion, ensuring structural support where no stable base could be achieved.
In addition, the installation process had to be meticulously coordinated with the tide cycles, forcing teams to operate outside normal working hours in order to make the most of the limited periods when the base of the structure was accessible.
Secure fixing and full respect for the monument
The safety of the scaffolding system — and, above all, the preservation of historical heritage — was at the heart of every technical decision. To prevent any damage to the tower’s structure, all contact points between the scaffolding and the building were protected using wooden pads and neoprene sheets, a solution designed to safeguard the integrity of the original masonry.
Additional reinforcements were implemented through a combination of anchoring systems, including suspended console brackets, which ensured the support of both vertical and horizontal loads.
These solutions not only maintained the structural stability of the scaffolding throughout every phase of the intervention, but also ensured that no element of the tower was compromised during assembly.
Tailor-Made scaffolding design
Developed by Catari, the project was primarily aimed at facilitating the meticulous and highly skilled restoration work to be carried out by N Restauros – Conservação e Restauro, Lda. across the entire perimeter of the structure. The solution was designed to ensure safe and efficient access to all areas of the tower, while fully respecting the monument’s unique features.
In addition to the main scaffolding structure, supplementary towers and platforms were installed to serve as logistical support areas for the client.
The use of the Catari US® system allowed for an optimised material configuration, delivering an efficient solution from both a technical and logistical perspective.
The technical capability and adaptability of the Catari US® system — together with Catari’s commitment to delivering safe, tailored solutions that meet client requirements — were key to the project’s success.
A complex solution, designed to honour heritage and protect the future of one of Portugal’s most iconic landmarks. We extend our sincere thanks to N Restauros – Conservação e Restauro, Lda for their trust and close collaboration throughout this project.