Schenk Hattori Architecture Atelier has built a visitor centre for the De Palingbeek nature reserve near Ypres. The architects designed the building as a screen that structures the landscape and conceals the chaotic existing situation.The seemingly simple, elegant wooden structure reflects the precision of the craftsmanship and creates a subtle spatial intervention: a meeting place, a resting spot along the footpath, a prelude to the landscape.

The war cemeteries and memorials in the Westhoek serve as a reminder of the region’s history. The Palingbeek was a strategic point during the First World War, but also has a remarkable history of failed infrastructure projects. The Palingbeek is a remnant of a canal that was constructed from 1864 onwards and which silted up time and again. Today, the area is a popular destination for walkers and cyclists. The Palingbeek route leads through woods, rolling meadows, marshes and orchards. The province of West Flanders commissioned the Belgian-Japanese architectural firm Schenk-Hattori to build an unmanned visitor centre to guide visitors around the area.