A new 19.9-meter (65-ft) tower rises like a brutalist-inspired, twisted monolith above its rural surroundings, providing a space for watching migratory birds that populate Wuhan's Chenhu Wetland, China.
The work of Shanghai-based designers Xiang Architects, the Chenhu Migratory Bird Observation Tower is clearly much more than an elevated platform to observe the 100,000-plus winged guests that frequent the site from October to March. It's a walkable piece of art, with its commanding exterior only part of the story.
Perched on Xianglushan's 22-m (72-ft)-high natural elevation spot, the Chenhu tower doesn't attempt to blend in with nature but make a statement in it. Once inside, visitors can experience a double-helix layout, where two counter-rotating staircases provide different routes for those going up to the top and those descending. At each stage, viewing platforms – 24 in total – offer multidirectional views of the landscape surrounding it, which vastly changes as you ascend.
Nine flights of steps – each covering about 1.5 m (5 ft) in elevation – offer snapshots of the flat terrain that surrounds the tower, making visitors notice aspects of the environment they may not when they're at the top and can take in the entire view.
The idea is that instead of a quick climb to the top, the tower invites people to stop and take in the changing view at each stage – essentially making the journey as much of the experience as the destination.
At the top, the platform offers uninterrupted views of the entire region, including the Tonghu town and the Tongshun River.
"The experience is organized into three perceptual stages: ascending, turning, and overlooking," Xiang Architects said, according to design site Dezeen. "The stairs establish a steady physical rhythm, while the platforms provide moments of pause and reflection."
The tower was constructed from 24 prefabricated sections, with counter-rotating steel braces providing the strength and stability while removing the need for a central piece providing this support.
Its steel cladding was also intentional, with the tower appearing more like a twisting, angled sculpture than something that's trying to blend in with its surroundings.
"It captures the shifting atmosphere – dissolving into the wetland mist on overcast days, reflecting the clear blue sky, and glowing with the warm amber of the sunset," said Xiang Architects. "Rather than attempting to hide or mimic nature, the tower maintains a clear architectural presence, engaging with its surroundings through a constant interplay of light and materiality."
And while unapologetically bold, the tower functions as an impressive multifaceted viewing station, and shows just how something like a space to watch birds can enrich that pastime with clever design.
