The World s Tallest Wooden Observation Tower on Pyramidenkogel

Transcription

1 The World s Tallest Wooden Observation Tower on Pyramidenkogel arch. dietmar kaden, Milano, 13 October 2013

2 Pyramidenkogel and its towers The Pyramidenkogel is a mountain on the south board of the WÄrthersee in Carinthia. On the top of the Pyramidenkogel, a first wooden tower were erected in the fifties This tower was replaced in the sixties by a concrete tower, an up-to-date structure in its day. But during the time, its platforms became defect.

3 competition (2007) So in 2007 a European-wide selection process were organized to identify architects, specialized in wood construction. According to the jury, our tower-project shows, in a visionary way, the structural and aesthetic potential of modern wood construction.

4 Basic tasks: wood / 360Å-panorama / unique form Our basic tasks were: First: constructing in wood. Second: making the splendid 360É-panorama more powerful. Third: finding an unique form to create a new landmark.

5 Idea of the Elliptical Spiral The form was our starting point as architects. It was dietmar kaden who found a new, unique form: the elliptical spiral. By superimposing ten elliptical rings, each of which is rotated in relation to the previous ring, a dynamic sculptural form emerges.

6 Anthropomorphic Since the ellipse resembles the oval cross section of the human body, something amazing happens: The stringent geometry leads to a feminine, sensual sculpture.

7 Elements of the Tower The elements of our tower are: 10 elliptical steel rings 16 load-bearing laminated wood columns four platforms two helix-shaped panorama stairs a glass elevator cab, floating through the space a 51m high stainless steel slide

8 Geometry of Repetition The principle of repetition is the hidden heart of our tower! The columns are each formed with just a simple curve, although the radii of curvature repeat at regular intervals.

9 Playful Silhouette The tower s silhouette varies according to the viewpoint.

10 Start of Construction: October 2012 In 2012, our winner project became finally reality. On 12 October, the old concrete tower was blown up.

11 Foundation (1.000 tons) and Ring The concrete foundation slab was secured with eight steel anchors. Here you can see the 16 elliptically arranged steel feet for the wood columns, shortly before they were cast into the concrete.

12 Wood Quality Check Our longtime experience with wood and it s quality check were, of course, absolutely crucial. We found suitable wood in the high Alpine region in slowgrowing, extremely sturdy larch trees.

13 The Nodes Technically, our tower fully exhausts all the possibilities of connecting wood and steel.

14 Adhesion In the voids between wood and steel, epoxy resin was introduced under great pressure. This had two results: a durable transmission of force between wood and steel and a seal of inlay against water ingress.

15 Begin of Assembly: 28 January 2013 (rubner/zeman) At the end of January, the first diagonals and the first laminated wood columns were installed.

16 2nd Week: first section with terrain cranes The first section of wooden columns was erected with telescopic cranes.

17 Horizontal Joint Here you can see the millimeter-precise assembly of the parts.

18 5 th Week: Third Section with telescopic cranes Above a height of 30 m, telescopic cranes were used.

19 7th Week: Topping out Ceremony In the 7th week, the height of 66 m was reached. Here you see the excellent Rubner-workers during the topping out ceremony.

20 9th Week: Platforms of Cross-Laminated Timber In April, the highest elliptical observation platforms were installed.

21 after 4 months: 100 m After 4 months: The tower height of 100 m is reached. Around the foot of the tower, we constructed a helix-shaped base building. It contents the infrastructure such as reception, ticket counter, shop, restaurant, etc.

22 windows into the landscape

23 s k y b o x In June, the Skybox was finished, a weather-protected, glazed space. It can be booked for temporary events.

24 Down Inside the tower, we installed a 160 m long slide, the longest building slide in the world.

25 Up After this breathtaking view at the tower s base, you can reach its top by only 441 steps.

26 And thanks to the lighting, even at night the sculptural spiral form comes into its own. To sum up: for me, for my partners, for the Rubner Group and for all people that worked at this tower: It was a big challenge, and we won it together!