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Corten Steel Canopy Tower with Aluminium Framing Overlooking Natural Landscape

Authors:
Arthur Micheron, Javier Castro
Corten Steel Canopy Tower with Aluminium Framing Overlooking Natural Landscape

Project in-detail

Built with a Corten steel facade and a framework of aluminium tubes, the Kurgi Observation Tower offers expansive views of the surrounding North Vidzeme Biosphere, facilitating engagement with nature for visitors and promoting ecological awareness.
5 key facts about this project
01
Pakavs, meaning "horseshoe," reflects local heritage and design inspiration.
02
The tower utilizes a lightweight aluminium tube framework for structural efficiency.
03
Corten steel guardrails enhance durability while blending with the natural environment.
04
Vertical circulation aligns with the existing tree canopy, ensuring an unobtrusive profile.
05
Visitors engage in an immersive experience with panoramic views of the biosphere.

The Kurgi Observation Tower is located at the border between Latvia and Estonia, within the North Vidzeme Biosphere. The tower serves as both a place for viewing and a cultural symbol, focusing on the relationship between the structure and the surrounding nature. The design aims to provide individuals with an elevated view, encouraging a connection to the landscape while promoting an appreciation for the environment.

Design Concept

The focus of the design is on ascent and observation. Visitors can climb and experience the beauty of the natural surroundings from above. The nearly horizontal form of the tower helps to avoid disturbing the local ecology while ensuring that the views are expansive. As a structure reminiscent of a lighthouse, it invites various users—walkers, cyclists, and residents—to engage with the area’s natural beauty.

Cultural Significance

The name Pakavs, meaning "horseshoe" in Latvian, reflects both the shape of the tower and its ties to Kurgi Farm. The farm is known for breeding the Latvian Ardennes horses. This connection adds cultural depth to the structure and reinforces its relationship to the local environment and traditions.

Material Composition

The choice of materials plays an important role in the structure's stability. The facade is made of aluminium tubes that provide a lightweight and sturdy framework. In addition, Corten steel is used for guardrails, making the tower durable while allowing it to blend with the natural surroundings. The use of concrete slabs and prestressed concrete enhances its structural strength, and prefab steel is employed in the main structure, facilitating efficient construction.

Architectural Integration

The design of the tower adapts to the site's natural contours, incorporating vertical pathways that align with the treetops. This method creates a smooth transition through environmental layers while preserving the overall visual flow of the landscape. As visitors ascend into the canopy, they find opportunities for contemplation and exploration that highlight the vibrant elements of the biosphere.

As visitors approach the Kurgi Observation Tower, they are greeted by a terrace that opens to wide views of the woodlands, encouraging a deeper engagement with the surrounding habitat. The architecture integrates into nature, creating a space where people can appreciate both the structure and the beautiful environment it inhabits.

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MICROHOME 10: Celebrating Small-Scale Living with €100,000 Prize Fund and Kingspan’s Innovation

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Competition organisers

The MICROHOME 10 competition invites participants to submit visionary designs for off-grid, modular microhomes that push the limits of sustainable, small-scale living. Organised by Buildner in partnership with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this tenth edition sets the challenge of designing a dwelling for two people within a maximum floor area of 25 m², encouraging bold solutions adaptable to any urban or rural location. The competition continues Buildner’s mission to foster innovative approaches to compact, energy-efficient housing that can address pressing global challenges.

This year’s edition offers a generous total prize fund of €100,000, including the Kingspan Award for designs that integrate high-performance Kingspan products and the Hapi Homes Award for a project selected for real-world construction. In addition to cash prizes, the winners gain international exposure through Buildner’s media partnerships, publications, and a dedicated MICROHOME magazine, further amplifying their ideas to the wider architectural community.

Key dates for MICROHOME 10 include the closing date for registration on 25 September 2025, the submission deadline on 29 October 2025 (11:59 p.m. London time), and the announcement of winners on 9 December 2025. These milestones ensure participants have clear timelines to develop and present their concepts, with early registration discounts available to support students and emerging designers worldwide.

MICROHOME

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € Prize Fund / Kingpsan Edition #10 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 25 September 2025

Enter an open architecture
competition now

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