VIEWING TOWER

SCOTLAND

Images    |    Drawings

Images    |    Drawings

Site plan
2. Ground Floor Plan
Ground floor plan
3. First Floor Plan
First floor plan
4. Typical sculpture display floor
Typical sculpture display floor
5. Viewing Platform
Viewing platform
Elevation
Section

Project Status: Competition

This project was an invited competition to create a publicly accessible viewing tower along a woodland trail network south of Edinburgh. The competition stipulated that the tower height should not exceed 36m, on a footprint of 9x9m. The brief also asked for places for rest and contemplation, located at various points of a vertical stair rise, and that the base of the tower should create an inviting space for gathering.

Our proposal began with a survey of the history of the tower typology ; in archaeology, literature and myth. The proposal developed out of this historical context on the one hand, and on out of a rigorous set of tectonic and constructive principles on the other ; adopting modern off-site pre-fabrication techniques where possible.

The tower adheres to the classical division of base, mid section and crown. It springs from a vaulted base of in-situ concrete, cast in a rough manner to make it resemble fossilised stone. The concrete is given a red pigmentation, echoing the old red sandstone that is a prominent feature of the geology and architecture of Scotland.

The base interior is a concrete groin vault open on two sides and punctuated with a helical staircase. The entire winding stair system is a light filigree metal ; electroplated brass.
A series of intermediary floors provide spaces for display of land art objects ; a use we defined as appropriate to such a setting.

A series of waterproof woven mesh curtains fringe the tower interior, helping to dampen prevailing winds at height, and recalling the tower house draperies and festival architecture of the middle ages. A viewing platform at the top of the tower provides dramatic views of the surrounding hillsides.