Italian architects Anton Pramstrahler and Alex Niederkofler plan to construct a "Lookout Tower" in a woodland near the town of Bruneck, Italy. Comprised almost entirely of wood, the twisting structure will provide a scenic space for respite and contemplation while blending into the surrounding growth with a fanned façade that mirrors the trees’ roots and canopies.
Generated by the parameters of the golden ratio and using only linear structural elements, the Lookout Tower’s winding form is the result of systematic shifts every two meters in the angles of wooden structural members along the outer façade.
In order to maximize framed views of the forest from within, the structure relies on hexagonal floor plates that vary in size and angle as occupants move vertically. These are connected by a continuous internal staircase and serve as punctuated platforms for resting and viewing the forest from shifting standpoints.
At the wide “roots” of the tower, the façade peels away to reveal a welcoming entrance for visitors. As they reach the “canopy” at the top, they are greeted with a gathering area revealing a panoramic view of the valley and forest.
Over the next few months, the architects will fine-tune the design for future construction through three-dimensional digital modeling.
Architects
Anton Pramstrahler and Alex NiederkoflerArchitect
Alex NiederkoflerClient
Municipality of BruneckArea
140.0 sqmProject Year
2015Photographs
Anton Pramstrahler and Alex NiederkoflerProject Year
2015Photographs
Anton Pramstrahler and Alex NiederkoflerArea
140.0 m2
