Project Description:

Kärven is a 12-meter-high iconic timber-diagrid hyperboloid observation tower made with 144 straight 45x145 mm timber laths. A close dialogue between architect and engineer propelled the iterative design development, initially exploring the concept and later solving details leading to a sustainable, material-efficient, and expressive tower using simple, affordable building elements.

Judges Comments

This timber hyperboloid observation tower blends architectural expression with efficient structural logic. The diagrid system formed by 144 inclined timber laths and steel rings creates a self-stabilizing structure with local and global buckling resistance. Assembly required no measurements, relying entirely on geometric coordination, showcasing a low-tech but highly sophisticated structural approach rooted in craft and computation.

Structural Designer

Ramboll Sverige AB

Niklas Johansson

Location

Varberg, Sweden