The Wall of Privilege: How Lagos' Barrier Symbolizes Algarve's Transformation

In Lagos, a wall serves as a near-perfect metaphor for the Algarve's evolution into a tourist destination. Erected at Meia Praia, it divides the neighborhoods of the Associação de Moradores 25 de Abril from the Palmares Resort golf course. This small yet significant barrier stretches over 150 meters, marking a stark divide between the utopian dream of equal housing and a luxury enclave for the wealthy.

This division is emblematic of broader societal shifts, particularly involving a neighborhood that became a symbol of the SAAL program, initiated in August 1974 by architect Nuno Portas. The program aimed to address housing as a fundamental human right, encouraging local communities to solve their housing issues through cooperatives and self-construction. It sought to empower the marginalized against the forces that perpetuated their exclusion.

Today, the Algarve faces a severe housing crisis, with skyrocketing rents and a shortage of homes driving professionals away. Illegal constructions, wooden houses, and containers have become the only refuge for those stripped of their right to housing. The region, once a beacon of hope, now resembles a "coutada de privilégio"—a privileged hunting ground where the wealthy carve out their domains at the expense of the common good.

The wall in Lagos stands as a reminder that the utopia of equality remains a distant dream. The Algarve's transformation reflects a broader narrative of exclusion and privilege, where the few prosper while many are left behind.