as part of a competition to design a flamingo observatory, NUDES has developed ‘nest’ – a concept that celebrates the unique and diverse ecosystem of wetlands located in the heart of abu dhabi. becoming an oasis of animal and plant life, the wetlands area has attracted numerous different species to settle within the area. this includes abundant plant and aquatic life, as well as over 250 species of birds, most notably the spectacular flock of flamingos that call the wetlands home.
the architectural program is shielded by ‘twig’ like components
all images courtesy of NUDES
NUDES‘s design of ‘nest’ attempts to decode the construction behavior of birds and other related species by proposing a structural system inspired by design processes found in nature. the construction of a nest basically includes assembling pieces of material together to compose a distinct spatial language driven by locally available materials. the architectural program is shielded by nested ‘twig’ like components which are modular, mass produced and easy to assemble. these ‘twigs’ form the skin of the nest and are connected to each other to create a composite system that shields the users from solar radiation.
the construction of the nest basically includes assembling pieces of reeds together to compose a distinct spatial language
the architectural program of the bird observatory consists of four components; an ‘event space’ on the ground level; a ‘helical ramp’ that serves as an exhibition gallery & bird observatory; the ‘observatory’ deck on the upper level and; a board walk trail. the design advocates the innovative usage of sustainable technologies and materials which house the architectural components. overall, the nest project explores the design of the flamingo bird observatory that is both culturally and contextually relevant.
the interior volume consists of a helical ramp that leads you to the observatory on the upper deck level
the ‘twig’ like assembly is fabricated by bundling reeds together to create a single component
the upper panoramic deck is screened from solar radiation by a lightweight thatch roof
the observatory offers engaging panoramic views of the landscape
the ‘twigs’ form the skin of the nest and are connected to each other to create a composite system that shields users from solar radiation
architectural program
plans, section, elevation
materials & technology
project info:
project name: ‘nest’
program: flamingo observatory
location: abu dhabi, UAE
architect: NUDES
design team:
nuru karim: founder & principal designer, NUDES
aditya jain: architect
salai v: architect
uttara rajawat: architect
dhruval shah: architect
The post NUDES proposes a flamingo observatory made from ‘twigs’ in abu dhabi appeared first on Architecture Admirers.