Flamingo visitor center – Abu Dhabi
AUTHOR: Dora Perković and Tamara Šebetovsky
PROJECT: Preliminary design
LOCATION: Al Wathba Wetland Reserve, Abu Dhabi
AREA: 1000 m2
YEAR: 2020
STATUS: Competition entry, Project
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve consisting of both natural and man-made bodies of water located 40 km southeast of central Abu Dhabi. Wetlands are comprised of wetlands, sabkhas (salt flats), fossilized sands and dunes, and are densely packed with animal and plant life of which most spectacular is flamingo population. Task of the project was to design wetland visitor centre while not disturbing this accidentally created delicate microclimate . Idea was to create pleasurable space for a visitor (by creating optimal natural ventilation-wooden roof structure) while getting informed and experiencing flora and fauna through the display area (atrium yard ). Roof structure is designed to act as lots of windtowers (natural air circulation) inside one grid /shape that is corresponding to the dessert area context (basic dessert house- tent).