FLORA Observatory / IAAC

Architects: IAAC – Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
Year: 2022
Photography: Adrià Goula
Project Directors: Vicente Guallart, Daniel Ibañez
Developed by: Andrea Paola Rubio Paredes, Leif-Andres Vallecillo Riksheim, Lillian Wanjiru Beauttah, Pablo Rafael Herraiz García de Guadiana, Prachi Agarwal, Rachael Margaret Verdugo Pelaez, Romain Jacques Kenny Russe, Roshni Chirag Shah, Shagun Modi, Zani Kerubo Gichuki, Iletutu “Tutu” Ibiyemi Awosika, Kshitij Ramlal Sarote, Mónica Irene Pérez Rivera, Prasidh Choudhary, Agnieszka Szklarczyk, Pongpol Punjawaytegul, Suwapat Rodprasert, Anton Hofstadt
Host: Valldaura Labs. Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia
Valldaura Labs Management: Laia Pifarré
Supporting Team: Bruno Ganem, Alex Hadley, Gustavo Escudero
Advised Team: Marziah Zad, Miquel Rodriguez, Elena Orte, Guillermo Sevillano, Ignasi Caus, Miguel Nevado
Sponsors: Tallfusta, Alberch, Heco Schrauben Ibérica
With The Support Of: Cerdanyola del Vallès City Council
Volunteers: Marilia Fernandez Lockwood, Philipp Wienkämper
City: Barcelona
Country: Spain

FLORA, an ecological observatory designed by Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), was completed in 2022 within Barcelona’s Collserola Natural Park. Constructed from locally sourced wood, the project was developed by students from the Master in Advanced Ecological Building and Biocities (MAEBB) program. Drawing inspiration from forest canopy research, FLORA serves as a space for researchers to study biodiversity and monitor the impacts of climate change on the park’s ecosystem.

Flora observatory / iaac — FLORA Observatory / IAAC 64

The observatory, created entirely from wood obtained through sustainable forest management in the surrounding area, reflects a commitment to ecological responsibility Students and researchers from IAAC’s MAEBB program collaborated on the design, which aims to integrate research with sustainable construction methods while fostering a deeper understanding of the forest’s environmental dynamics.

The design, inspired by the forest walkway concept introduced by biologist Margaret D. Lowman (known as Canopy Meg), provides a space for researchers to live and work within the forest canopy.

FLORA is located in Valldaura, within the central forest of Barcelona’s metropolitan area. The 8.5-meter-high structure is constructed from pine trees cut and processed by the students into cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels and beams. The structure will accommodate a researcher for short-term stays to study biodiversity and make use of the new FLORA weather station.

Collserola Natural Park covers over 8,000 hectares and faces environmental challenges typical of Mediterranean forests, particularly the impact of climate change. FLORA, the first structure built for forest canopy observation, enables ecosystem monitoring and the study of its evolution.

The “kilometer zero” approach was central to the project. The students conducted research to analyze the biodiversity of the forest and identify the necessary materials for construction, which were sourced entirely from the surrounding environment.

Seventy pine trees were harvested, processed on-site at Valldaura Labs, and transformed into CLT panels, beams, and solid wood components.

The core CLT structure is supported by four 30×30 cm laminated wood pillars, with bridges made of laminated wood, the longest spanning 12 meters. The entire structure is insulated with two layers of natural cork panels for thermal and acoustic protection.

A hand-woven net surrounds the building, designed to blend the structure into the environment by allowing plants to grow over it. This further camouflages the observatory, integrating it into the natural surroundings.

FLORA enables a scientist to live temporarily within the structure to study local biodiversity, focusing on the impact of climate change. It includes spaces for bird observation, a workspace, and an ornithological radio. The observatory promotes interaction with nature and serves as an interactive ecological prototype.

The observatory takes inspiration from the pioneering work of Margaret D. Lowman, who developed methods for studying forest canopies. These treetops provide critical ecological functions, including regulating water cycles and supporting biodiversity, making their conservation essential for studying climate change mitigation. FLORA is designed to support these efforts by allowing direct observation of canopy ecosystems.