I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want to own

- Andy Warhol

Reconnecting

Reconnecting serves as the central theme that inspired the development of this proposal. Motivated by the desire to bridge the gap between our increasingly urbanized society and the natural world, the project seeks to foster a deeper connection with the environment. Visitors are invited to embark on a journey through a carefully designed, organic network of boardwalks that wind through the landscape, offering an immersive experience that encourages reflection and engagement with nature.

As they explore, they are guided towards the Volplaning Tower, where they can observe and appreciate local wildlife in their natural habitat. This tower becomes the pinnacle of the experience, providing a unique vantage point for visitors to witness the beauty and serenity of the surrounding ecosystem, while reinforcing the project's goal of reconnecting humanity with the natural world.

The boardwalk network’s organic design is a metaphorical representation of volplaning, which describes the smooth and continuous movement of a flying bird. It harmoniously combines straight trajectories and sinuous curves, softly touching the reserve’s precious land without interfering with the area’s flora and fauna.

The panoramic tower

The main structure of this proposal is a panoramic tower, which is an extension of the landscape that softly detaches from the ground to become a visible and distinguishing landmark. A sequence of ramps integrated into the structure brings the visitors “up in the air”, allowing them to reach the three levels of the tower through soft inclined ramps. Secondary ramps connect the three floors and enable visitors to move easily between the different levels. The Volplaning Tower’s timber frame serves as a supportive structure for the three levels of ramps. The frame may appear as a “naked” skeleton at first as visitors access the structure from the footpath.

Yet, as they reach the end of the structure, the tower increasingly gets covered by horizontal wood louvers, adding complexity and firmness to the architectural design.​​​​​​​ The overall structure, in its colours but also in its appearance, is inspired by the body of the flamingos that inhabit the Al Wathba Wetland reserve. The structure’s louvers represent the flamingo’s pink feathers, creating both shading for the visitors walking in the structure but also a protective separation from the natural environment to avoid animal disturbance.