Observatory
Environnemental 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 at the shoreline and at low-tide level, the building is 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 a small auditorium are lifted above the ground, framing four precise views of the landscape: the lagoon, the vegetation of 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. The construction unfolded over more than a decade.
