Frame and Form

The next series of small articles consolidates a kind of observatory wood structural performances which opened with items such as the MUJA or the Building against earthquakes.
Then present this observation tower for bird reserve Graswarder, belonging to the Baltic resort ofHeiligenhafen, Germany.

Combining the functionality of the tower with the trajectory of the stairs in two tranches, Designers Meinhard von Gerk have created this observatory is part of the bird sanctuary as a kind of origami resembling the silhouette of a bird on the marsh.

The tower 15 meters is articulated through the parallel planes formed by lattices to triangulate the upward path of the stairs. The structural assembly is completed by a transverse stiffening system by guy wires cross and vertical portals.

Elegant example of optimum light prefab structure for hard to reach places that are properly integrated into the natural environment. The observatory tower facilitates its functional austerity function without sacrificing comfort. The glazing of the spacious room provides a comfortable upper viewpoint lover of ornithology.

As almost always in structures composed of many linear elements, unions play a prominent role. One of the most interesting aspects of this work lies in the design of joints by metal pins. This system allows the bars have continued to create a free union extremely easy to turn while formal power. If we look, We can observe three families of elements located along angles of 30 º, 90 º and 150 º respectively, that intersect at nodes marked by solitary bolts.

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Technical Work:

Location: Graswarder, Heiligenhafen, Germany
Design: Meinhard von Gerkan
Project Manager: Volkmar Sievers
Team: Knut Maass, Wolf-Ulrich Berthier, Mark Carlsen, Raymond Kinski, Andrea Moritz
Construction timing: Paul Stephan
Customer: NABU Heiligenhafen
Surface: 75m ²
Height:12.5 m
Construction timing: 2003-2005
Photos: Heiner Layout