Pape Bird
Observation
Tower

The Pape Nature Park in south-western Latvia opened in 2003 with the ambition of protecting the region’s wetlands. The nearly-11,000-hectare park includes important nesting grounds for 250 species of migrating birds within the marshes situated at the limit between the Papes Lake and the sea.

The Pape Bird Observation Tower competition is the first of a series to be organised by Bee Breeders in collaboration with the support of Pasaules Dabas Fonds, Latvia’s leading nature conservation fund. Here, participants were challenged with designing a new bird observation station, to replace an existing structure built in 1966 and destroyed by fire. The jury evaluated entries based on a number of factors, including sensitivity to the environment, potential to serve as a landmark, functionality, constructability and economy.

The observation tower will be used primarily to record annual migratory habits of an estimated 50,000 birds, as well as to allow park visitors the opportunity to observe the park’s natural resources. In this light the jury considered functionality and sustainability critical. First, the proposed structure must permit users the ability to observe birds and other migratory animals in a manner that is simultaneously protective –visitors must be concealed to some level from frightening off animals – and open to 360-degree views. Second, the observation tower must have the capacity to be built with minimal disruption to the Paper Nature Park habitat.

Participants were asked to follow strict size guidelines. The observation tower must have a maximum height of 11m and at least two observation platforms. Despite these constraints, the jury found that entries proposed a wide and exciting variety of enclosure materials and structural forms. Modularity played a key factor in the majority of submissions, as did ease of construction within the difficult marshland setting. Designs also included a number of striking raised walkway designs for connectivity from the nature trail to the observation tower.

Each of the winning entries has the capacity to become an important architectural landmark and observational tool for the park. The high quality of the six honorable mentions reflects the outstanding level of work submitted across the board. Bee Breeders would like to thank each entrant for their participation and hard work.