Wood and cork towers create water reservoir and wildlife shelter in Luxembourg forest

Originally published by Design Boom

Located within a protected Natura 2000 forest in Luxembourg, Temperaturas Extremas’ water reservoir reconsiders the intersection of infrastructure and biodiversity. Designed to house 1,000 cubic meters of drinking water, the structure extends beyond its utilitarian purpose by integrating into its fragile, natural environment. Its two distinct volumes, standing 50 meters tall, have been developed according to precise technical specifications and in collaboration with groups of naturalists and ornithologists who complement the design team to create a refuge for local and migratory wildlife.

Prefabricated concrete, cork, and untreated larch wood shape their forms — envisioned as just another tree on the site — with their facades integrating shelters for animal and plant species. The Refugio de Aves y Mamíferos y Depósito de Agua (Bird and Mammal Shelter and Water Reservoir) received first prize in a recent competition at the XIII Ibero-American Biennial of Architecture and Urbanism.

The water reservoir doubles as a wildlife shelter in the forest

The project has been developed by Madrid-based Temperaturas Extremas, led by Atxu Amann, Andrés Cánovas, and Nicolás Maruri, in collaboration with Adelino Magalhaes and a multidisciplinary team. Their collective approach reflects extensive studies of the forest and its ecological context, aiming to minimize its footprint while fostering biodiversity. The first volume, constructed from rough prefabricated concrete, incorporates nesting spaces for swallows and peregrine falcons, positioned at varying heights and orientations.

The second volume houses the water reservoir and is insulated with cork, overlaid with a permeable skin of untreated larch wood which facilitates the nesting of seasonal species and features bat roosts. This outer layer provides thermal insulation and supports seasonal bird nesting and bat roosts. Over time, the wooden skin will be enveloped in vegetation, further embedding the structure into the local ecosystem. Ground-level features include a permeable metal skin, designed to protect the strategic infrastructure from intrusion, while the roof becomes an element of vegetation covering. Rainwater harvesting systems along the exterior also ensure efficient water management and reduce environmental impact.