Our proposal for the flamingo observation tower, in the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, takes inspiration from the rich and varied cultural figures of Abu Dhabi: the veils that adorn and shelter in all their manifestations and scales, the rich motifs of its textile patterns, the tectonic racks of its billboards that shimmer in this beautiful landscape. The proposal is a 4 story timber lattice structure, through which a visitor ascends under shade, either by way of ramps or a spiral stair, all enclosed within a framework of slanted columns. To provide protection from the punishing sun and climate, these wooden structural members are clad in a veil, conceived of a light white metal mesh, meant to reflect the sun. As one ascends into the heart of each observation platform, the assembly becomes incrementally lighter until the visitor can enjoy unobstructed views at the top.

The timber ribs of the structure are designed to avoid the use of complex construction techniques and be entirely modulated. On the one hand, these large ribs of our observation wall repeat and consider the fragmentation of each segment into smaller wooden profiles. On the other hand, conscious of its location and the challenges posed to build in such context, the wooden profiles and the metal mesh mail cladding are intended to be prefabricated off-site, with the sole use of connection joints to be assembled on site. These materials are durable and easily replaced. The observation tower becomes a habitable billboard, the structure can be easily adapted and scaled. We can deem the project as a new kind of typology which comes to be by intersecting a wall and a roof, to provide shelter and communal space, surrounded by the flamingos that flock the reserve in their thousands.