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Elevated Steel Platforms With Perforated Grids Offering Scenic Views

Authors:
Elias Knecht, Gereon Siévi
Elevated Steel Platforms With Perforated Grids Offering Scenic Views

Project in-detail

With cantilevered steel platforms and perforated grids that facilitate drainage, the observation tower offers expansive views from its elevated lounge, enhancing the visitor experience while seamlessly integrating with the surrounding landscape.
5 key facts about this project
01
The tower features H-profile steel columns that are slightly tilted inward for enhanced visual effect.
02
Wide cantilevering decks surround the heated lounge, offering unobstructed panoramic views.
03
Perforated steel grids allow rain and snow to drain away, reducing maintenance concerns.
04
The structure is designed to minimize land use while maximizing visitor engagement with the landscape.
05
Elevated platforms create varying spatial experiences, encouraging exploration at different heights.

The Kurgi Observation Tower is located within the Kurgi horse farm in the eastern Baltic region. It is designed to improve the visitor experience by offering wide views of nearby lowland fields, rolling pastures, and forests. The concept focuses on using minimal land and promoting sustainability, allowing the structure to fit into the natural setting while providing a space for relaxation and observation.

Structural Framework

The design features a strong framework made of steel columns with H-profiles. These columns are angled slightly towards the center of the building, providing both support and visual interest. To ensure stability, each column rests on separate concrete point foundations. This construction helps to handle the challenges presented by the surrounding terrain and contributes to the tower’s durability.

Visitor Experience

The observation tower includes a combination of a staircase and an elevator, offering various ways for visitors to reach the upper levels. The top lounge area is heated for comfort throughout the year, making it suitable for any season. Large windows enclose this space, allowing visitors to enjoy unobstructed views of the landscape and feel closely connected to the surroundings.

Functional Design Elements

Multiple platforms are integrated into the design, serving as both viewing points and support elements for the structure. These platforms vary in size, providing different experiences as visitors ascend. The use of perforated steel grids in the platforms and the staircases allows rain and snow to drain easily, preventing water accumulation and reducing maintenance needs. This detail increases safety and enhances the overall usability of the tower.

Materials and Aesthetics

Steel and concrete are the main materials used in the Kurgi Observation Tower. These materials are chosen for their strength and longevity, aligning with the project's focus on sustainability. The combination creates a modern look that fits well with the natural surroundings. The tower’s elevated platforms create a clear profile against the sky, while the angled roof draws the eye upwards, emphasizing the connection to the landscape.

The outdoor deck that extends from the lounge invites visitors to step outside and enjoy the views directly. This design choice encourages interaction with the environment while reinforcing the relationship between the built structure and the natural world.

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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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