the palace was recuperated under terms of project "metropólis", where the government contributed 10 million contos. the project, under the direction of architect fernando távora, was polemic, since it envisioned the transfer of the old installations of the "fábrica harmonia" below the palace, where they would be reconstructed. the project was denied by the local council in january 1998, when the architect was instructed to reformulate the plan. other parts of the project, that included the creation of a small marina, the re-routing of a marginal roadway next to freixo and the construction of a new building (to commemorate vasco da gama's trip to brazil and provide a venue for the celebrations marking the age of discoveries), to shelter the press museum and other tenants, remained.