Introduction
Buildner is excited to announce the results of The Legendary Highway 14 Tower competition, organized in partnership with the city of De Smet, North Dakota, USA!
Participants were tasked with designing an observation tower and landscape features fitting the natural and historical context of the area, on a site which offers an ideal vantage point for viewing the area's historic natural features while remaining easily accessible for visitors. The project's goal is to enhance visitor experiences and promote local and regional tourism, while also prioritizing accessibility, safety, and sustainability. By focusing on creating a design solution that facilitates a user experience that enables movement, observation, and contemplation of the Silver Lake and Big Slough ecosystem, this project has ambitions to create a harmonious balance between natural beauty and innovative architecture.
Buildner and its jury sought design solutions that are iconic and promote local, regional, and statewide tourism, while adhering to budget recommendations and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. The brief called for proposals using materials, systems, and techniques with low embodied energy and resistance to natural decay, as well as those considerate of modular designs or configurations that facilitate assembly and repair by volunteers. The competition program was flexible, open for modifications and improved development strategies. The design solution should ensure safe visitation during hot summers and freezing winters. Landscape elements with trails and the observation tower will ideally form a paired system and be designed in tandem. The maximum visitor capacity of the viewing platform is 15 people, and the maximum visitor capacity of the entire tower structure is 30 people. Finally, the observation tower should feature one or more observation platforms, each with a floor space of 8 - 12 square meters.
Buildner worked with local and international jury with experiences designing observation towers and other small-scale projects in similar natural contexts: Nina Aalbers is a cofounder of the Rotterdam-based studio, Architectuur MAKEN; Xuanru Chen is a lead architect at Shanghai-based ZJJZ Atelier; Tue Foged is an architect and founding partner of the Copenhagen-based architecture studio EFFEKT; Anne Cecilie Haug is the director of staffing, senior architect, and member of the research and innovation team at the Oslo office of Snøhetta; Kyle Lee is Kingsbury County Commissioner and involved in community projects in De Smedt, South Dakota; Euan Millar is co-founder and director of Icosis Architects, a Scottish design practice specializing in bespoke buildings using natural sustainable materials often set within remote landscapes and locations; Rok Oman co-founded OFIS architects in 1996 where runs a team is based in Ljubljana, Slovenia and Paris, France while also teaching at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design; Tom Schroeder is a senior architect with Patkau Architects and a guest critic / adjunct faculty at the University of British Columbia; and Jan Vondrák Is a cofounder of the renowned Czech studio Mjölk and a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at TUL in Liberec.
Buildner and its jury panel would like to thank all participants for their work and to congratulate the winners and shortlisted participants for their outstanding ideas.
We sincerely thank our jury panel
for their time and expertise
Nina Aalbers
Cofounder at Architectuur MAKEN
Netherlands
Xuanru Chen
architect at ZJJZ Atelier
China
Tue Foged
Founding Partner at EFFEKT
DENMARK
Anne Cecilie Haug
Senior Architect, Snøhetta
Norway
Euan Millar
Cofounder, Icosis Architects
Scotland
Rok Oman
OFIS Architects
Slovenia
Tom Schroeder
Patkau Architects
Canada
Jan Vondrák
Mjölk
Czechia
Kyle Lee
Kingsbury County Commissioner
USA
1st Prize Winner
Highway 14 Observation Tower
United States
Jury feedback summary
According to the author: “The vast and sweeping prairies of South Dakota have played an integral role in shaping the identity of its people and culture. From the resilient spirit of early pioneers who tamed the open grasslands, to the enduring connection between communities and the land, the prairie's influence is deeply woven into the fabric of South Dakota's rich heritage.” The inspiration behind the observation tower is rooted in the undulating hills of the Great Plains, mirroring the rhythmic contours of the land that shaped the lives of early pioneers. The tower's design draws inspiration from the sod dugout homes that still endure in prairie landscape. The hills rise up and give the sensation that one is embedded in and one with the earth. The design of the observation tower is also a tribute to the enduring legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, drawing inspiration from the materials used in her modest home and the winding journey she embarked upon across the Midwest. Constructed with weathered wood shingles reminiscent of the homesteads dotting the vast landscapes that Laura once traversed, the tower aims to echo the resilience and simplicity of her pioneering spirit. As visitors ascend culminating in views of Silver Lake, they are immersed in an architectural narrative that mirrors the history of the pioneers and Laura Ingalls Wilder's own journey, providing a tangible connection to the historical and cultural tapestry woven into the very fabric of the South Dakota prairie.
This structure is a brave proposal, a step in the right direction to restore our relationship with nature. It consists of a path that not only gradually lifts the visitors above the landscape but also connects them with the surrounding nature, by submerging them in the soil first and by making nature a part of the structure, referring to the historical dugout homes. In this proposal, nature comes first.
Nina Aalbers / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder at Architectuur MAKEN, Netherlands
Beautiful fluid alternative solution to the ‘tower’ concept and integration of both earth and timber shingles to clad and contain the form. It would successfully integrate with its landscape.
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
A horizontal tower with good landscape integration and engaging movement through the surroundings. But is it changing or enhancing the existing landscape?
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
Powerful choice of a walkway instead of a tower. However the ending of the path seems incomplete in its design. Also the need to construct artificial hills underneath seems overdone. It needs a balancing in the design at the top of the path, with fewer hills, creating a more clear experience of being submerged in the landscape, then lifting the path above it.
Tue Foged / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner at EFFEKT, DENMARK
The proposal demonstrates a certain level of sophistication and thoughtful design, where the sequence of touring events and the viewer's visual journey are orchestrated like a story, thereby creating a rich, immersive experience. Furthermore, this design effectively engages with the specific characteristics and dimensions of the site, enhancing the overall functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Xuanru Chen / Buildner guest jury
architect at ZJJZ Atelier, China
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation makes use of outstanding visuals, in particular the line drawings, to describe the ambition of the project globally, at the level of the site, and at the level of the detail. The plan drawings are excellently calibrated to allow a reader to understand design intent, with a mix of diagrammatic annotation, human scale figures as well as material textures.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
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2nd Prize Winner
Karavan historical views
Competitions serve as a platform for us to explore fresh ideas, challenge ourselves, and experiment with cutting-edge design concepts. They grant us the freedom to think creatively and approach problems in unconventional ways, which fosters a culture of innovation within our team. This environment also enables us to continuously refine our skills as we engage with diverse design briefs and problem-solving scenarios, offering a sense of growth and development. Moreover, competitions provide an opportunity to inspire others and, in turn, increase our visibility and recognition within the architectural community and beyond. This exposure can significantly enhance our presence and reputation, amplifying our impact on the field. In essence, participating in architecture competitions resonates with our commitment to innovation, collaboration, social responsibility, and historical preservation. It empowers us to stretch the boundaries of our creativity, advance professionally, expand our professional network, gain acknowledgment, and contribute positively to our society.
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Jury feedback summary
The proposal aims at the rediscovery of the places long ago walked by local ancestors, traversing a valley in a caravan discovering the vastness of the country while at the same time solitary in contemplation. The architectural features of the new wildlife observation complex include local motifs that integrate the form into the landscape and connect it to the history of this place. In addition to the observation tower, the proposal includes a cabin for bird watching or observation of the other animals from the ground, both from the marshy areas and from the non-flooding areas, as well as a bridge connecting with the opposite bank.
I like the more traditional tower look to this design. I also like that this design has the ability to provide access to those not able to walk the stairs. However, I find all of the design elements on the walkway to be distracting.
Kyle Lee / Buildner guest jury
Kingsbury County Commissioner , USA
The traditionalist architecture of the project is presented in the fullness of colors and creative variability of spatial forms.
Jan Vondrák / Buildner guest jury
Mjölk , Czechia
Beautifully illustrated, verging on an Arts & Crafts solution, but I am less convinced by the detailing and longevity of the proposed materials.
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
Good idea of framing views, and a strong visual presence with the red wood. Smart to have a plan for supplementary elements.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
The walkway in itself is beautiful, but needs simplification and balance in the amount of elements, when seen as a whole.
Tue Foged / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner at EFFEKT, DENMARK
It consists of various, easily recognizable structures. They are stepping stones in the landscape that make both the history of the place and the natural landscape more appealing to explore for visitors of any kind. The structures are lightweight shelters, often lifted above the landscape to let nature be. I can very well imagine this project being realized step by step, growing in the landscape.
Nina Aalbers / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder at Architectuur MAKEN, Netherlands
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The project makes use of a unique and individual graphic style that is beautiful and detailed. The consistent use of red-brown across the images yields visual unity across the four sheets and calls particular attention to the materials proposed. The presentation would benefit from a more equal distribution of images and text on each of the four sheets.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
3rd Prize Winner
Tower 14
I participate in architecture competitions to showcase my design skills and challenge myself with project types I wouldn’t typically see in my day-to-day work. With unconventional programs and unique competition sites that encourage designers to embrace complete creative control, I can explore innovative design ideas and systems that have the potential to transform a project and its community.
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United States
Jury feedback summary
The multi-phase project intends to provide meaningful connections to the historic and natural sites through walking and biking opportunities. The design of the tower complements the Legendary trail and its surrounding environment to create a cohesive system. The history of Ingalls Homestead, the Little House's use of wood, West Bethany Church's monumental steeple and many other local sites provided inspiration to the form and design of the tower. Rather than making the elevator a simple function of circulation, the design transforms the core into a beacon. Sustainable materials and design strategies help to create a harmonious balance between nature and innovative architecture. Wood is used as the primary material and structure in the observation tower for its low embodied energy. The sustainable technique of Shou Sugi Ban is proposed for the exterior envelope to demonstrate resistance to natural decay and enhanced durability without the use of potentially harmful treatments. Inclined walks and accessible ramps create a paired system between tower and trail, presenting the user with different experiences depending on the direction of their approach. Three observation decks provide views unique to each level.
This proposal celebrates verticality from afar and within. The simple strong formal gesture is clearly identifiable, iconic, and truly legendary. A lighthouse beacon on the prairies will certainly draw people, but this strong move could be greatly enriched with more cultural and regional sensitivity to environment, habitat, and materiality.
Tom Schroeder / Buildner guest jury
Patkau Architects , Canada
Traditional tower elements and ADA accessibility. I like the lighting effects for nighttime use as visibility.
Kyle Lee / Buildner guest jury
Kingsbury County Commissioner , USA
A strong elegant design with considered integration of routes across site. Unnecessarily tall, or toweringly iconic?
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
The project has very clear and good elements. It is a shame it appears 'too slick' in the understanding of the experience along the walkway design and the design of the top of the tower.
Tue Foged / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner at EFFEKT, DENMARK
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The presentation is to be lauded for its clear hierarchy and crisp drawing style which makes for very simple comprehension. The use of large drawings with bold color draws the reader's eye immediately to key design elements. The realism of the site plan also allows a reviewer to consider the project as a fully-realizable architectural proposition.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Student Award
Archiving Decay : Institutionalization of the forgotten
Before being a competitive space, an architecture competition is a hub where stories and possibilities can be shared. As a student, this competition was an opportunity to expand my understanding of the current situation, in a site that I might never have a chance to work with. The competition brief was our studio brief, and it was an excellent project to explore the unknown, yet, to propose the most sitespecific response as possible for this site. I now learned a lot about a place that I did not know before, and my project is an interpretation of all what I learn about South-Dakota. I really enjoyed to try in resolving issues that I could find and analyses, and I am now very happy to share my opinion with the people who are closely concerned by these issues.
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Jury feedback summary
The author writes: “Highway USI4 is an iconic route crossing the state of South Dakota, from east to west; from Blooking to Spearfish. Between these two cities, numerous small settlements dot the landscape, where residents are less than a thousand, bearing witness to the signs of urban decay. This decay manifests as a decline in population, a consequence of human migration from smaller towns to larger urban centers ultimately resulting in the demise of these settlements, commonly referred to as ‘ghost towns’.” The proposition is for a new tower which stands both as an observation platform and monument to abandoned cities. Its elementary form draws from that of a nearby abandoned grain elevator.
This design ingeniously captures some of the melancholic yet historically resonant aspects of the site and reinterprets them to define the essence of the viewing tower. This innovative approach allows for a fascinating interplay where the connection between visitors and the tower transforms continuously along with the variations in the surroundings, leading to ever-changing viewpoints and observational focal points that make for a captivating experience.
Xuanru Chen / Buildner guest jury
architect at ZJJZ Atelier, China
Archiving Decay poses the question: what will be left of the buildings we have built and are building now? More than a tower to explore the landscape, this structure is a museum for building culture, reuse of materials and the process of time. These aspects are well integrated in this design concept. The effect of nature on the building is within the decay. My question is, what does this building give back to this natural landscape with its presence?
Nina Aalbers / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder at Architectuur MAKEN, Netherlands
The elementary shape of the building is based on traditional agricultural buildings. It fits into the surrounding landscape and is an interesting attraction for potential visitors. The fire looks great in the pictures, but I'd be a little scared of it in real life.
Jan Vondrák / Buildner guest jury
Mjölk , Czechia
"Archiving Decay" may not draw visitors, but the analysis, documentation, and exhibition of material history will. The oddly missing elevator in a tower inspired by grain elevators is a missed opportunity to celebrate the mechanical workings of these historic structures.
Tom Schroeder / Buildner guest jury
Patkau Architects , Canada
An interesting design and I love the integrated fire pit as well as the large platforms for vendors and performers.
Kyle Lee / Buildner guest jury
Kingsbury County Commissioner , USA
A thoughtful well-considered solution, though over-structured for its requirement perhaps.
Euan Millar / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder, Icosis Architects, Scotland
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
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The use of several perspectives to depict the project - from afar, up close and within - is especially beneficial to this submission. That in addition to detailed line drawings and enlarged construction-level details allow one to comprehend the project scale and materiality quite easily. The use of text and the overall layout is, however, rather unorganized and does not appear to follow the same logic from one page and then next.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Buildner Sustainability Award
A Tower for Humans and Birds
Architecture competitions are a fundamental tool for experimenting, exploring concepts, and possibilities that allow us to discover new worldviews. They are a true playground where it's possible to build step by step one's identity as an architect and develop a personal design approach.
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Italy
Jury feedback summary
The project explores the potential to intervene in the traditional concept of observation towers, which have historically served as architectural features facilitating a visual connection between humans and nature. According to the author: “these structures symbolize a delineation, demarcating a distinct spatial boundary between the two realms. The objective is to transform this boundary into a dynamic interface, fostering the creation of a novel ecosystem that enhances the biodiversity of the surrounding area.” Taking inspiration from iconic American water towers and traditional rural architecture, the observation deck rises from the ground on a single level. It offers 360-degree panoramic views across the landscape. The facade is designed to host the numerous local bird species, protecting its guests from weather and predators. Locally available materials and expeditious assembly are prioritized.
This is an unusually practical structure that gives De Smet a unique destination for both people and birds. It enhances and reveals the local ecosystem while adding a cultural icon reminiscent of the historic agricultural structures of the region.
Tom Schroeder / Buildner guest jury
Patkau Architects , Canada
The architectural concept with the ramp is a moderate but strong solution. The ramp eliminates the need for an elevator and smoothly takes the visitor towards the most beautiful views.
Jan Vondrák / Buildner guest jury
Mjölk , Czechia
A plus for the ramp as an interesting way to move, integrating birds nests and the recognizable shape.
Anne Cecilie Haug / Buildner guest jury
Senior Architect, Snøhetta, Norway
A very clear scheme. If not for the unfortunate shape/aesthetics of the overall typology, this could have been a winning scheme in its components and balance of experiences, choices of elements.
Tue Foged / Buildner guest jury
Founding Partner at EFFEKT, DENMARK
This elegant structure is both humble and recognizable. The proposal checks all the boxes: it is referring to the historical building method, it is the perfect place to spot present fauna and it is simple in its structure: built with eco-friendly materials and easily dismountable.
Nina Aalbers / Buildner guest jury
Cofounder at Architectuur MAKEN, Netherlands
Buildner's commentary, recommendations and techniques review
Order your review here
The presentation uses a crystal clear mix of large and impactful imagery balanced with supportive and descriptive diagrams and line drawings. There is little question about where to find information, and the number of visuals are limited yet highly detailed with the adequate constructive and spatial information. It would be helpful if the texts were larger for easier readability.
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9/10 Linework
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9/10 Quality of drawings
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9/10 Balance of color
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8/10 Layout
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9/10 Hierarchy
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7/10 Annotation
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8/10 Text
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9/10 Clarity of story
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9/10 Clarity of diagrams
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9/10 Quality of overall presentation
Honorable Mentions
Shortlisted projects
Horizons Edge
Highway 14 Tower, Project Competition
Project ID 191183
Heartland Memorial Trail
DE SMET OBSERVATION TOWER
Silver Lake Tower
Archiving Decay : Institutionalization of the forgotten
Salience
Transit & delay
TOWER 14
Ascension
Pathway Posts
The Cycle
Tower grid hub
Silver Lake Tower
Middle of Somewhere
Observation Tower
Highway 14 Observation Tower
Aura tower
By The Way Tower
SILO
Conestoga
De Smet Canvas
By The Shores of Silver Lake
Silver Lake, Silver Sky
Homestead Heights; The Prairies on Reflection
Tower 14
Highway 14 Nature Tower
ACROSS DAKOTA
Leading Your Way
Promenade Tower
Marsh Outpost
Belvedere by Big Slough
Transition of place
A Tower for Humans and Birds
Karavan historical views
Passing through
Little Path on the Prairie
Aether
