Honzík Lookout tower
Honzík Lookout Tower is not intended to be a solemn memorial, but rather a magical culmination of the Rudný hill, bringing joy and a unique experience to its visitors. The commemorative dimension is present mostly in a symbolic form. The tower becomes a space for sharing, hope, and connection with the landscape and the sky.
Location:
Šacberg, Jihlava, Czech Republic
Investor:
City of Jihlava
Project year:
2025
Project type:
Invited competittion
Result:
2nd place
Height:
37,5 m
Built-up area:
78,5 m2
Architects:
Jan Vondrák, Michael Šourek, Anton Muraliou, František Fiedler, Jan Mach
The design builds upon the location's long history, the mining tradition, and lost lookout towers. The choice of materials references metal mining in the Jihlava ore district, which was defining for Šacberk. The lookout tower serves as a contemporary symbol, firmly rooted in Jihlava’s memory and identity, yet open to new uses and experiences.
The Honzík Lookout Tower is designed as a subtle steel structure wrapped in a lightweight, metallic-silver textile facade. This material pays homage to the history of silver mining while endowing the structure with a dynamic, living character. Its surface changes throughout the day and year—at times blending seamlessly with grey clouds, at others shimmering in the setting sun. Consequently, the tower never appears static, dynamically responding to the surrounding landscape and atmospheric conditions. At the same time, the visual identity of the tower harmonizes with the technical environment of the nearby ski lift and transmitter, which stand in sharp contrast to the surrounding nature.
The ascent is composed as a sequence of experiences. The textile envelope gently filters light, revealing fragmented views and creating anticipation and suspense. Visitors experience not just the structure itself, but a dynamic play of light and shadow that gradually unlocks new perspectives.
Suspended nets are integrated into the intermediate landings, serving as informal resting spots. Visitors can lie down or sit back, experiencing an extraordinary sensation of "floating" between earth and sky.
The observation platform at a height of 35 meters marks the climax of the journey. After a filtered and sheltered ascent, visitors emerge into an open panoramic space with an unobstructed view of the countryside. The contrast between the intimate journey upward and the open horizon is a key aspect of the design. Thus, the lookout tower is not merely a vantage point, but above all an architecture of experience, leading from the intimate to the grand.
The lookout tower is accessible year-round and seamlessly connects with the Mining Nature Trail and the ski slope. Its concept caters to diverse visitor groups: the lightweight membrane instills a sense of security, the nets invite relaxation, and the observation deck offers expansive vistas. The design also incorporates a small auxiliary building for the ski lift operator featuring covered seating for visitors, created to unify the aesthetic of the tower's immediate surroundings.
Honzík Lookout Tower connects mining history with the joy of discovery. It is a gift that transcends sorrow, transforming a commemorative site into a positive experience shared with every visitor. It stands as a new landmark for Jihlava—simultaneously firm and light, playful and monumental. Its message is universal: architecture can serve as a bridge between the past and the future, earth and sky, sorrow and joy.
The project allows public involvement in its funding. One approach is civic participation, where individuals, businesses, or associations can symbolically "adopt" a specific structural component of the tower (e.g., a column, stair section, or net platform). These elements can then be inscribed with the donor's name or listed on a plaque of supporters at the base of the tower. This model provides a transparent and engaging way to contribute to construction while strengthening the community's bond with the city's emerging landmark.
