Růženka Lookout Tower
In early 2009, we met Mayor Křížková for the first time and agreed to build a lookout tower together. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we certainly didn't expect the entire process to take nearly ten years.
Location:
Pastevní vrch, Czech Republic
Client:
Municipality of Růžová
Status:
Completed
Year of completion:
2018
Height:
6,5 m
Budget:
2,7 mil. CZK
Authors:
Jan Vondrák, Pavlína Mülerová, Jan Mach
Design engineer:
Mjölking s.r.o.
The mayor gave us a relatively free hand, so our main counterparts during the project were the local authorities. After eight years of tweaking and adjusting the design, we finally reached a consensus. Compared to the initial proposal, the final structure is quite small. Its total height is roughly six meters above the ground, with the viewing platform just two meters up. Yet even this modest height dramatically improves the vantage point, opening up a 360-degree view of the horizon.
The visual concept draws on the aesthetics of the nearby volcanic cones and the military bunkers of the pre-WWII fortifications. Basalt blocks complement the simple reinforced concrete structure, creating a seamless transition between the ground and the concrete volume. A stainless-steel mesh is installed on the outer surface to support climbing plants. Within a few years, the lookout should be overgrown with greenery, fully integrating into the morphology of the breathtaking surrounding landscape.
The lookout is popular and, thanks to its accessibility, has become a frequent destination for outings. A big thank you and admiration go to the tenacious mayor, who was the strongest link in the chain and managed to bring what initially seemed like a crazy idea to a successful end. Thank you for that stubbornness! Ondra Horáček and Matyáš Prošek helped us with the infographics for the lookout.
