Salt Lakes Environmental centre is conceived as a public space for learning, embedded within a fragile and ecologically significant landscape that forms part of the Natura 2000 network. The proposal centres on integrating landscape and building, through the notion of a continuous walk and meander towards and from the lakes.
The design of walks through the landscape and building create a feeling of gradual discovery. These slow and relaxed meanders are articulated through thresholds, moments of pause, and framed visual connections to nature.
The building massing is formed from a simple sweep of a pitched roof profile – 5 to 3m, further articulated through a series of subtractions and incisions. These introduce daylight, guide views, define entrances and thresholds, and create covered outdoor spaces, while simultaneously organising the circulation.
A central axis is carved through the volume to connect all the programmes to a central welcome room, thereby establishing the visual continuity of “the walk”.
Three distinct sub-volumes organise the programme into educational, research and administrative services alongside the café.
The landscape strategy is based on principles of low-impact design and is conceived as a network of gentle interventions, zones of varying intensity use, controlled management of vehicles, pedestrians, noise, dust, and light pollution. Within this network, a bird-watching observatory is integrated, taking advantage of the natural topography to create a modest and accessible for all viewing platform.
The covered outdoor area functions as a flexible space for education, rest, and gathering.
Beneath the circular opening in the canopy, a water element collects rainwater and, through natural filtration and evaporation, expresses the seasonal transformation of the Salt Lake landscape.
The exhibition space takes on a simple curvilinear shape that follows the walk, connecting the visitor reception area, the ticket office, and the shop. Granular textures aim to instil a feeling of being immersed in the various histories of the salt lake. A sacred place for the ancient world, a productive landscape over the past century and a protected wetland (Natura 2000), the salt lake played an important role in cultural and economic development of the city. It also makes us understand our relation to nature and migrating species such as the majestic Flamingos.
The entrance area functions as an open arrival point for a large flow of visitors and groups of students, with durable, low-maintenance materials: walls made of compressed earth building blocks, a single cast mosaic floor and wooden ceiling cladding in earthy tones.
The building’s structural framework is designed as a hybrid system of reinforced concrete and steel elements.
Low-carbon blocks made of compressed local earth soils, aggregate, hydraulic lime and fibrous binding agents make up the wall infill. This provides a cement based alternative as well as adding to the thermal performance of the building, following bioclimatic and sustainable design principles.
This innovative system allows the construction of static slabs with reduced weight. The weight reduction contributes to improved seismic performance, allows for larger openings and offers increased flexibility in the configuration of spaces and reduces the carbon footprint.
Type: Architecture
Location: Larnaca, Cyprus
Size: 700m2
For: Larnaca Municipality
Status: Design Proposal
Collaborators: ANASTASIOU MISSERI architects
With thanks to: Aarde Land – Amund Hugin & Enrique Cavelier, Platonas Stylianou & Associates, Harry Varnavas, Michalis Nikolaou, Spyros Nasainas
Visualisations: Slab Limited