Observatory

Environmental Centre, Aveiro

1st Prize, Limited Competition

Set within the canals, salt pans and islands of the Ria de Aveiro, the Centre is conceived as an observatory over the lagoon.

Built on the shoreline at low-tide level, the building becomes partially submerged as the tide rises. Its lower level provides direct access to small boats, establishing a physical connection between the building and the lagoon.

An exhibition space and an auditorium are raised above the ground, framing four precise views of the landscape: the lagoon, the vegetation along the dikes, the sky, and the distant silhouette of Aveiro.

The building draws on the construction knowledge of Aveiro’s former shipyards. Timber and metal elements were crafted by local boatbuilders and shipyard workers using traditional techniques. Construction unfolded over more than a decade.