In the midst of nature
Student-Built Observatory near Barcelona
Forest Lab for Observational Research and Analysis, © Adrià Goula
A team of students and researchers at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) has developed and built an observatory for studying surroundings in a completely new way. The Forest Lab for Observational Research and Analysis, called Flora for short, rises by over 8 m into the forest canopy of Collserola Natural Park, the largest green open space in the greater Barcelona area. The building enables naturalists to observe local biodiversity at the treetop level.
Flora is located in the richly wooded Serra de Collserola Natural Park. © Adrià Goula
Interactive research station
As an ecologically interactive research station, Flora can be lived in for brief periods to conduct research in the middle of the forest. Local biodiversity established at the site thanks to the optimal conditions of the treetops can be studied in particular at close quarters. Along with working and projection spaces and a room for bird-watching, Flora also contains a weather station.
Local material
The project adheres to the zero-mile philosophy. Accordingly timber from the immediate surroundings acted as the construction material, with 70 invasive pines obtained by way of sustainable forest management doing away with the need for long supply chains. The processing of the trees into cross-laminated timber panels, glued laminated timber and solid wood elements was handled by the students.
The students can observe and study local biodiversity from the Observatory. © Adrià Goula
Construction details
The observatory's core in cross-laminated timber rests on four glued laminated timber columns and is clad in two layers of natural cork panels for warmth and acoustic insulation. The treetop walkways with spans of up to 12 m in length were likewise built in glued laminated timber.
© Adrià Goula
© Adrià Goula
Well-camouflaged
The observatory is wrapped in digitally designed and hand-knotted mesh that took its inspiration from hunters' camouflage netting. It not only serves camouflage purposes however, since plants will be able to spread out along it, letting the mesh become one with the forest.
The observatory is wrapped in digitally designed and hand-knotted mesh that took its inspiration from hunters' camouflage netting. © Adrià Goula
Sustainable degree
The Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities master's programme at the IAAC is concerned with studying and developing ecological projects and processing locally produced materials. Over recent years the work of the students has brought forth further successful projects, such as Tova, the Niu House, the Voxel Quarantine Cabin and the Solar Greenhouse.
Architecture: IAAC, Students of the master's program „Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities“
Management: Vicente Guallart and Daniel Ibañez
Client: Valldaura Labs., IAAC
Location: Cerdanyola del Vallès, Natural park Collserola, Barcelona (ES)
Sponsoring: Tallfusta, Alberch, Heco Schrauben Ibérica
Gallery
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