Flora Observatory
ELIGE MADERA

Flora Observatory

You’re probably familiar with what a forest canopy is, how it is used and where it can be found. From the FLORA Observatory, it's possible to see the canopy and study it for days, and that’s not all. The view from this structure in the middle of the largest natural area of Barcelona is incredible! We’ll tell you all about it here.

You’re probably familiar with what a forest canopy is, how it is used and where it can be found. From the FLORA Observatory, it's possible to see the canopy and study it for days, and that’s not all. The view from this structure in the middle of the largest natural area of Barcelona is incredible! We’ll tell you all about it here.

This time, it’s the students and researchers who are leading the project. At the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), they’ve created the new FLORA Observatory (Forest Lab for Observational Research and Analysis), in the middle of the vast Collserola Natural Park. This more than 8,000-hectare area has the ideal characteristics for observing and researching the behavior of ecosystems facing drought, climate change and reactions to external factors to the area's biodiversity, among other issues.

Standing 8.5 meters high, the scientific research center is designed for observing the forest canopy of the park and monitoring the evolution of the ecosystems. An exhaustive investigation of the biodiversity was carried out, based on a "kilometer zero" construction philosophy. The postgraduate students getting their Masters in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities at IAAC processed 70 pine trees from the Valldaura area based on the Sustainable Forest Management Plan approved in Collserola, to manufacture cross-laminated timber panels (CLT), glulam beams and solid wood components.

What is the canopy, then? It’s the habitat formed by the treetops, a shelter for a wide variety of animals, that protects the soil from heavy rains and snow, while regulating the temperature and nourishing the soil when the leaves fall. It also plays a fundamental role in the water cycle, in the recirculation of water to the atmosphere through evaporation. The FLORA observatory was designed according to the needs of researchers working on the biodiversity of the forest, and identifying the inhabitants of the subsoil, the surface, the canopy and the sky.

The main structure rests on four 30 x 30 cm thick CLT pillars, which are accessed from CLT bridges, the largest of which is 12 meters long. Two layers of natural cork panels were also included for thermal and acoustic interior insulation. On the outside, the structure is wrapped with a hand-woven netting inspired by the nests of hunting birds, with the idea of camouflaging the observatory with the growth of plants and forest and interfering as little as possible with the surrounding wildlife. All the pieces were prefabricated and assembled on site, thanks to tools such as a sawmill and a small CLT press provided by Valldaura Labs.

This is not, however, the first scientific facility dedicated to the study of the forest canopy; the FLORA observatory is inspired by the work of the American biologist Margaret D. Lowman, also known as Canopy Meg - a pioneer in the science of forest canopy ecology. Her career includes a long list of designs such as hot air balloons and walkways for forest exploration and ecosystem health.

In comparison, the FLORA Observatory allows for scientists to stay for an extended period of time - to study biodiversity, observe the effects of climate change on the natural park, and develop mitigation plans related to the absorption, storage, and flow of carbon through the canopy.

The space, although small, has all the necessary equipment for research, and the project, as described on the ArchDaily website, “seeks immersion in nature and the creation of an interactive ecological prototype”.

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