The open landscape of the IJzerbroeken has a very rich fauna and flora as well as special, historical traces (with the 16th-century Fort De Knokke and the IJzer as a strategic no man's water during WWI). An observation tower at this location aims to show this stratification without disturbing natural life. To this end, a Friendly Tower was designed to be empathetic to visitors, nature and history.
The tower is a pentagonal figure that, from above, offers views into the historical, geometric bodies of water of the surroundings – figures to which the observation tower also relates. The pentagonal shape of the tower incorporates the structure of plants and flowers. From each side, the tower aims to show itself accessible with five gateways. A high opening provides access for adult visitors, a low one for children and three very low, symbolic openings for the smallest passers-by (a shoveler, a sedge warbler, perhaps a fox?). A staircase of 45 steps takes visitors to a viewing platform 6.5 metres high.
The tower is clad in wooden latticework. This skin, through its mesh, ensures that on the way up, visitors always maintain contact with the landscape. At the same time, it filters their movements in order not to visually disturb nature around the tower. The stairs narrow almost completely before opening up at the platform level. The tower also aims to be ‘friendly’ in its appearance. Rather than a petrified monolith, the tower is gentle and nomadic in the way it represents a kind of primitive hut.
Tags
Client
City of Houthulst
Architects
Robbrecht en Daem architecten
Program
Watchtower
Location
Houthulst, Belgium
Date
2019–…
Status
Ongoing
Floor Area
35 m2
Team
Paul Robbrecht, Hilde Daem, Johannes Robbrecht, Jonas Vanbelle, Jolien Naeyaert, Rieke Vancaeyzeele, Luc Beckstedde, Helene Hmittou, Mien De Vriendt
Structural Engineering
Mouton
Contractor
ABS
