Winning ideas for the Abu Dhabi Flamingo Observation Tower

Participants in the Abu Dhabi Flamingo Observation Tower sent in their best design ideas for a flamingo observation platform and connecting boardwalk at the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, which is located 40 kilometers southeast of Abu Dhabi. Known for hosting an array of plant and animal species, the reserve is also a pitstop for their most notable visitors, flamingos, during their yearly winter migration.

The observation tower would not only be a new architectural landmark for the reserve, but it would also accommodate a network of trails, a visitor experience center, and a bird hide. The observation tower had to be limited to a floor area of 400 m² and height of 12m, durable, low-maintenance, handicap-accessible, and construction costs would ideally be limited to $200,000.

The jury selected three prize winners, a BB Student Award, a BB Green Award, and six Honorable Mentions. Get a glimpse of the prize winning entries below.

1ST PRIZE: Flamingo Dreams. PROJECT AUTHORS: Bryan Fan, Shelley Xu | Australia

Jury commentary: “This pixelated structure impressed the jury with its ability to produce a number of unique viewing spaces using the buildup of a simple module. The structural unit is comprised of a cube of 12 linear wooden elements fixed at the corners. While not necessarily strong on its own, the cube performs as a structural lattice when amassed in bulk. Its form resembles a bird cage and houses multiple platforms, offering a short journey for viewing the surroundings from different perspectives. The jury found the sectional and elevation drawings to be especially helpful in understanding the unique spaces enclosed by this structure. The jury wonders if the fixation detail of the typical modular cube can be further simplified from a steel plate with screws to a more intelligent and stronger joint. It also wonders if the typical prefabricated module could in fact be much bigger, allowing the entire structure to be transported to site in just a handful of larger segments.”

2ND PRIZE: Al Wathba Birdwalk. COMPANY: AIDIASTUDIO. PROJECT AUTHORS: Natalia Wrzask, Rolando Rodriguez Leal, José Luis Mulás, Paola Barrenechea | United Kingdom

Jury commentary: “The ‘Birdwalk’ challenges the necessity for a single focal point of observation offered by a tower. Given flamingos' tendency to gather in large groups over large swaths of land, the Birdwalk instead offers an elongated and sheltered platform elevated to provide multiple vantage points over the shallow water bodies of the nature reserve. It is comprised of a modular system of concrete footings supporting prefabricated bamboo and oak rib profiles and decking, covered by a stretched and semi-transparent fabric. The construction system is minimally invasive and follows the topography of the landscape. Its various profiles provide for a range of different seating options and relationships with the ground. The jury considered this project to have extremely strong, clear graphic representation. It would like to understand more about the fabric system used to shelter the platform. What material is it, and how might this hold up over time?”

3RD PRIZE: The Cube. PROJECT AUTHORS: Rafail Gkaidatzis, Panagiotis Dimakidis | Netherlands

Jury commentary: “This pixelated structure impressed the jury with its ability to produce a number of unique viewing spaces using the buildup of a simple module. The structural unit is comprised of a cube of 12 linear wooden elements fixed at the corners. While not necessarily strong on its own, the cube performs as a structural lattice when amassed in bulk. Its form resembles a bird cage and houses multiple platforms, offering a short journey for viewing the surroundings from different perspectives. The jury found the sectional and elevation drawings to be especially helpful in understanding the unique spaces enclosed by this structure. The jury wonders if the fixation detail of the typical modular cube can be further simplified from a steel plate with screws to a more intelligent and stronger joint. It also wonders if the typical prefabricated module could in fact be much bigger, allowing the entire structure to be transported to site in just a handful of larger segments.”

You can learn more about the winning entries + Honorable Mentions here.