About This Project

Steven was Marks Barfields project architect responsible for the concept design, CAD model and final visualisations for this project.

Hyper Tower was created in response to an open competition held by the Trustee’s of Westonbirt Arboretum to design a viewing experience that would give visitors a new perspective over their stunning gardens.

Inspired by Shukovs Tower in Moscow, the propsed design is composed of three hyperboloid structures, stacked asymetrically one above the other in manner that responds to the vistas and points of interest present at each intermediate platform.

Each hyperboloid is fabricated from a lattice of Green Oak timber struts. These are pin-jointed to one of four steel ring trusses. Each of the three platforms is constructed from an open mesh floor fixed to a series of spanning beams that sit between the ring trusses and inner concrete core. The tower is serviced by two spiral stair ways and a low energy lift inside the core.

The foundations were designed as screw piles to minimize the impact on the arboretum grounds.

Whilst the tower was awarded second place in the original competition, a subsequest model of the structure was awarded ‘Best Work of Architecture’ at the 2010 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

Project Links:

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/daily-news/ra-summer-exhibition-winners-announced/8600684.article

http://www.iconeye.com/architecture/news/item/4486-the-summer-exhibition-at-the-royal-academy-of-arts

  • Share:

Project Title:
Hyper Tower

Client:
Westonbirt Arboretum

Office:
Marks Barfield Architects

Concept Engineer:
Buro Happold

Cost:
£1.5m

Status:
Competition Concept

Location:
Westonbirt Arboretum

Sector:
Education, Leisure