Botanical Building, San Diego, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Botanical Building is a large lath-and-wood garden pavilion on El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, built for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. It is known as one of the largest lath structures in the world, and its reflection in the Lily Pond in front of it is one of the most photographed views in the park.

The story behind it

The building dates from the 1915 exposition that gave Balboa Park much of its look. Instead of solid walls and a glass roof, it is made of spaced wooden slats, or louvers, that let filtered light through to the plants growing inside. More than 2,000 plants are kept in this shaded, airy space, which is why it works as a garden room rather than a conventional greenhouse.

In front lies the Lily Pond, an aquatic garden that gives the building its famous mirror image. The pond made the news in 2012, when a water-gun fight organised on social media took place there at night. The crowd trampled plants and damaged planters and plumbing, and the water level dropped. Donations later paid for the repairs. The building itself has also been the subject of restoration work in recent years, so it is worth checking its current status before you go.

What to look for

• Look at the building from the far side of the Lily Pond, where the slatted facade and its reflection in the water make the classic photograph.
• Study the spaced wooden louvers up close and notice how they break the sunlight into stripes.
• Watch the pond itself for water lilies and other aquatic plants, which are the reason for its name.
• Glance along El Prado to see how the building sits among the other Spanish-style exposition buildings of the park.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the building and the pond, longer if you like to photograph reflections.
• Morning or late afternoon usually gives softer light and calmer water for pictures.
• Check current opening hours and whether the interior is open, as restoration work has affected access.
• The park's museums, gardens and plazas are all within a short walk, so pair it with a stroll along El Prado.

See it on a quest

San Diego: Balboa Park Adventure brings you to the Botanical Building on foot as one stop of a longer route through Balboa Park. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Balboa Park, San Diego suits you if you want a mystery theme as you explore the same park. You walk from stop to stop, hear about each location as you reach it and solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.