bruno camara architects adds 3400 wooden posts to white forest in portugal

the parish council of benfica launched a competition aimed to create a new space for guests visiting the monsanto forest park, the largest green area in lisbon, portugal. considered the city’s lung, the park is meant to attract visitors and encourage outdoor activities for the users. the company cvz – construcoes, who was awarded the contract, hired bruno camara architects office to design a new restaurant and bar with outdoor spaces, including pedestrian paths and recreational areas.

for the project, bruno camara architects office proposed ‘white forest’, a contemporary and minimalist approach, which would frame the monsanto landscape harmoniously. the project includes footpaths created with 3,411 white-painted wooden trunks that enclose exterior space with their curved, organic shapes. the posts are spread throughout the site, winding through trees and hills to create the new spaces.

from small auditoriums, to various recreative spaces, the wooden posts delineate and separate areas, forming pockets of activity within the man-made forest. it is at the heart of the white forest where the main restaurant and bar space emerge, including both indoor and outdoor areas that connect the space with the surrounding nature. defined by a wooden structure, iron, and glass, the building was designed with sustainable and self-supporting materials.

standing out for its minimalist white lines, the new construction adds innovation, practicality and elegance to the greenery of monsanto, while achieving the desired landscape effect. the impact was mitigated by all the white trunks spread throughout the space, by blending their curved lines with the surrounding nature, and the raw materials used for the project.

project info:

architects: bruno camara architects office

project name: white forest

location: monsanto forest park in lisbon, portugal