bjarke ingels group's spiraling 'marsk' watchtower soon to become a new icon in denmark

bjarke ingels group / BIG designs its marsk tårnet, or ‘marsk watchtower’ as spiraling observatory along denmark‘s heathlands at hjemsted oldtidspark. rising 25 meters, over 80 feet, the sculptural work of architecture will stand as the result of a joint local ambition to create a place where visitors can experience the natural beauty of the region, marsk camp. although the marsk watch tower suggests the appearance of a work of sculpture or an art object in the landscape, the observation tower invites visitors to explore its spiraling, stepped surface. the tower is inspired by a strand of human DNA, and is divided between two separate staircases — one for walking upstairs and one for walking downstairs. although separate, both give visitors sweeping and transforming views across the distant surroundings.

images courtesy of bjarke ingels group / BIG

the bjarke ingels group-designed marsk watchtower will be constructed in corten steel. this material is chosen for its clean and simple expression that the design team expects will appeal to the surrounding natural environment. the marsk tårnet, or watch tower, will be realized as part of a local partnership between marsk camp-gruppen. the goal of the ambitious development is to introduce to the area an exciting and experiential architectural icon that will attract tourists from all over the world to hjemsted, denmark. while the tower is defined by its twisting stairs, the viewing platform at the top can be alternately accessed by a small elevator that runs through the structure’s core.

project info:

project title: marsk watchtower

architecture: bjarke ingels group / BIG

location: hjemsted, denmark

client: MARSK camp

construction: HB trapper

structual engineering: AFRY

visualizations: courtesy of bjarke ingels group / BIG