Shelter in the rainforest I Gamboa, Panama

Hyperbolic structures

The building is part of a large campus -managed by the Eugene Eisenman Avifauna Foundation- immersed in the Panamanian tropical rainforest. It offers a series of ecotourism facilities such as an observation tower and a visitor’s center that showcases the area’s natural heritage. The shelter functions primarily as a tour guide training center.

Design Morphology

The project consists of two primary elements: an elevated, open-plan wooden platform, which acts as a place of gathering, teaching, and food preparation, as well as a large gable roof that is the design’s main morphological feature. The roof is supported by two main columns and a central beam, forming two hyperbolic polaroids, thus achieving a free and flexible effect. Being a highly durable material, rigid thermopanel sheets are used as roof cladding.

Landscape Integration

The shelter maintains both a visual as well as an emotional relationship with the forest. Its architectural design is minimal yet accounts for all the essential functions needed to inhabit the space. During the day, it provides shading through its intricate roof design, while at night, a series of indirect lights illuminate the wooden platform.

Social & Cultural Impact

The project’s construction greatly impacted the social and cultural heritage of the area. Using the local workforce and expertise to materialize the design has resulted in making this site an educational destination. It has become a learning center for ecotourism and environmental sustainability within the scenery of Panama’s tropical rainforest.