MF Arquitectos

Ornithological Observatory

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

ORNITHOLOGICAL OBSERVATORY

Manuel Fonseca Gallego

PHOTOGRAPHS
Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

YEAR
2009

LOCATION
Logroño, Spain

CATEGORY
Pedestrian Bridge

Text description provided by architect.

The idea of an ornithological observatory, a unique and eminently landscaping object located in a well established urban surrounding belongs to the promoter, who proposed several locations within an area of outstanding beauty.

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

The project was presented as a conceptual exercise to the fourth-year architecture course of I-PAO (International Projects Advanced Architecture Organization), a research workshop of the School of Art and Architecture of the European University of Madrid, belonging to the Project Chair of Ph D.

Chair Prof. Jose Luis Esteban Penelas and organized by Ph D. Chair Prof.

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

José Luis Esteban Penelas and professor Manuel Fonseca Gallego, receiving a great interest from the students due to the fact that it was a real constructible project, providing really outstanding results for the superb quality of their work.

Once we selected the two most appropriate proposals, we proceeded to a shared tutoring, leading to the result that we presented.

The main concept is to consider the item as a big box beam bounded by four planes, the lower horizontal one and the rest formed by ruled surfaces.

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

The constructive composition of these planes is set with wooden planks arranged irregularly, covering the surface partially, as a "sell", so we dip ourselves into the dream world of nests, recreating a surreal atmosphere with lights and indoor shadows.

The piece rests on top of the hill and crosses the forest’s mass with a powerful cantilever (12 m approx.), poking surprisingly between the vegetation, surpassing the river’s vertical edge.

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada

Originally, the observatory’s implantation area was not accessible to the public, enclosed by a balustrade and a slope of approximately 5 meter height difference between the walk’s pavement floor and the normal flow of the river Ebro.

For this reason, the project also includes the construction of a walkway, parallel to the river, merging with the object itself and entering the exterior-interior continuity through the wood, becoming the unique and exclusive constructive protagonist.

Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada


Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada


Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada
Ornithological Observatory
© Luís Prieto Sáenz de Tejada


Ornithological Observatory
aerial view 01
Ornithological Observatory
aerial view 02


Ornithological Observatory
section 01
Ornithological Observatory
section 02


Ornithological Observatory
Plan
Ornithological Observatory
details


Ornithological Observatory
structure
Ornithological Observatory
isometric


Ornithological Observatory
elevation 01
Ornithological Observatory
elevation 02
Ornithological Observatory
elevation 03
Ornithological Observatory
elevation 04

MF Arquitectos
T +34 915 187682
MF Arquitectos
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