Treetop Canopy Walk Serralves Park, Porto, Portugal

Whilst in Portugal in August, we visited Serralves treetop canopy walk, Porto, designed by architect Carlos Castanheira this contemporary treetop walk ascends into a canopy of beautiful giant sequoia and provides some beautiful views of the surrounding area.

One of the main objective of the design was to 'create an overall example of sustainable construction, the structural supports are made from recycled wood to promote awareness of nature conservation, the design of the walkways also avoided any tree being felled due to the 'micropile foundations'  reducing the intervention area in the ground, in turn preserving tree roots. 'High resistance metallic pillars made from carbon steel and low alloy reduce the structural volume', adjusting to the naturally uneven terrain. The metallic elements were lined with 'radiated, solid or laminated pine, treated in autoclave, for greater integration' into the natural surroundings. The floor and balustrades are made from reused solid wood, ensuring they can be reused continually in the future. 

The aesthetics of the treetop walkway are suitable for the surrounding environment in terms of their tone, texture and material, offering continuity with the natural environment, preserving the landscape. As you travel along the walkway the route varies in heights offering a interesting experience of the landscapes natural contours, with the viewing platforms providing different angles over the lake, farm and woodland area and opportunities for contemplation. The giant trees, notably the giant sequoia create drama throughout and offer a chance to appreciate their size and magnificence.

The scale of this project is relative to the site, around 250m with varying heights between 1.5 and 15m, its layout meanders through the trees distorting the scale making it seem larger. 

Overall, the experience was enjoyable and peaceful, though there could have been more emphasis on the sustainability of the project and general information provided.