Temperaturas Extremas, a Spanish architectural studio, has completed the Bird and Mammal Shelter and Water Reservoir, an innovative water tower located in a protected forest near Luxembourg City. The project combines vital water infrastructure with eco-friendly features, providing shelter for swallows, bats, and even peregrine falcons.
A Harmonious Integration with Nature
Located within the Natura 2000 nature reserve, the tower blends into the forest landscape, offering 1,000 cubic metres of water storage while serving as a sanctuary for local wildlife. The design addresses the challenge of integrating a large industrial structure into a natural setting by breaking the tower into two separate cylindrical volumes.
Design Features and Materials
The two towers, one holding 600 cubic metres of water and the other 400 cubic metres, are raised off the forest floor to minimize visual impact. The exterior materials vary: one volume features rough concrete housing swallow nests, while the second is covered in untreated cork, providing thermal insulation for the water tank. The cork is wrapped in a permeable facade of larch wood slats, designed to eventually be covered with vegetation, making the tower resemble a tree.
Sustainability and Biodiversity
The tower’s design ensures that the structure supports biodiversity through strategically placed nesting areas. A rainwater collection system and an observation deck offer additional eco-friendly features. Walkways surrounding the tower facilitate maintenance and monitoring of the nesting sites. The studio collaborated closely with ornithologists and naturalists to optimize the design for local wildlife.
Architectural Influences
Drawing inspiration from external elevators in the studio’s previous projects and the towers of churches in Ravenna, the design is rooted in historical architecture. It’s also influenced by the work of architect Mario Ridolfi.
Impact and Future Considerations
Temperaturas Extremas won the 2016 competition held by the Kirchberg Fund for the design of this structure, and the tower is expected to evolve into a natural extension of the forest ecosystem. When fully covered in vegetation, it will seamlessly integrate with the surrounding landscape.
Other Significant Water Towers
The Bird and Mammal Shelter and Water Reservoir adds to Luxembourg’s portfolio of architecturally significant water towers. Notable examples include the Hivange water cone tank by Reuter Architects and the Ban de Gasperich tower wrapped in LED lights by Jim Clemes Associates.