The project is located within the Albufera Natural Park, a wetland ecosystem of great ecological significance characterized by the interaction between water, vegetation, and fauna.

The chosen location lies in the western portion of the lagoon. Unlike the eastern area, marked by a high concentration of commercial activity, tourist facilities, and heavy visitor flow, this zone offers greater tranquility and privacy, ideal for environmental appreciation and contemplation.

The exact point of intervention sits at the center of a geographic triangle defined by three key nodes:

The intersection of these three elements gives the pavilion a strategic, accessible, and ecologically responsive position. The pavilion is conceived as a multifunctional floating structure that mediates the relationship between people, water, and nature. Access is provided by water through the canal, with boats arriving at the pier.

The interior layout is organized into two main areas:

To complement the main structure, the project includes an environmental device made of slats and taut mesh that acts as a catalyst for biodiversity, organized across three vertical levels:

In keeping with the principles of reversibility and low environmental impact, the project adopts a floating structural solution based on pontoons: prefabricated modular elements made of recycled plastic, which naturally adapt to fluctuations in water level without disturbing the lakebed.

Above the pontoons, a metallic beam frame establishes the structural base for the walking deck. From this platform, a lightweight timber framework rises to form the pavilion, creating a natural relationship with the surrounding landscape. Solar and visual screens made of raw linen, treated with beeswax, envelop the structure. This traditional treatment enhances the fabric’s water resistance and durability, providing protection from the elements while maintaining the natural character of the material.

Between water, reedbeds and the horizon, Beyond the Reeds is conceived as a discreet microarchitecture that brings visitors closer to the birds’ habitat without competing with the landscape of La Albufera. Rather than acting as an isolated object, the pavilion becomes a mediator between human presence and the wetland, allowing water, vegetation, birds and horizon to shape the experience.

The approach is an essential part of the project. The path is set within the vegetation, slightly below the top of the reedbed, gradually reducing the visitor’s visual exposure and replacing distant observation with immersion. As the route advances, the body moves closer to the scale of the habitat and the landscape is perceived from within. At the end of this contained sequence, the pavilion emerges between the reedsand the full expanse of the lagoon is revealed.

The design strategy derives from the geometry of La Albufera’s rice fields. Selected field patterns are translated into the floor plan and projected onto the roof, where the planes are lifted and articulated to form a lightweight, permeable canopy. In this way, the agricultural geometry of the surrounding territory is transformed into architectural form rather than reproduced literally.

The pavilion is built as a light timber structure. Longitudinal timber decking boards rest on transverse beams, while the canopy is supported by four timber posts and stabilized by steel cable stays. A woven bamboo screen filters daylight, provides shade and preserves visual permeability, reinforcing the lightness of the intervention and its relationship with the surrounding reeds.

The structure accommodates birdwatching, contemplation and rest while maintaining the landscape as the dominant presence. Architecture ceases to guide movement and instead frames water, vegetation and horizon, making the changing light over the lagoon and the sunset the culmination of the experience.

A low-impact and reversible construction strategy supports this approach. Steel helical piles can be installed without excavation or concrete footings, while demountable steel-to-timber connections allow the pavilion and walkway to be removed with minimal disturbance to the site.

Through immersion, concealment and opening, Beyond the Reeds turns a small architectural gesture into an intensified perception of La Albufera.