Project Watch Tower Artis
This project presents a unique design for a 16-meter high watch tower located at the Artis Zoo in Amsterdam, offering panoramic views of the elephant enclosures and the surrounding savanna area, where giraffes, zebras, and other animals roam. Positioned in the heart of the ‘Hollandsche Tuin,’ this location is one of the few spots in the zoo where a tower can be constructed to offer a meaningful view beyond the treetops. Artis, with its vast greenery, often feels more like a park than a traditional zoo, so it was essential that the tower blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings without disrupting the aesthetic harmony of the space.
The concept for the design was inspired by the very elements of the environment that surround it – trees. The tower is conceptualized as a “tree house,” where the main structure mimics the organic form of a tree. The base is a large, wooden trunk-like beam that supports the highest viewing platform. The tower is composed of three viewing platforms, set at heights of 3 meters, 6 meters, and 10.5 meters, each supported by tree-like beams and branches that provide both structural integrity and visual coherence with the surrounding flora.
Foundation and Load Distribution
The foundation system is a critical element of the watch tower’s stability. Each vertical pole is anchored into the ground with a solid concrete block that extends deep in the ground. Metal plates and screws are used to securely attach the poles to these blocks, ensuring that the structure is firmly grounded. The concrete blocks not only provide a stable base but also help distribute the forces from the weight of the tower and the wind loads. This system of deep anchoring prevents any swaying or shifting of the vertical beams, allowing the structure to stand strong and secure, even under dynamic forces.
Stability and Secure Anchoring
To address the challenges of wind and lateral forces, the vertical beams are deeply embedded in the ground. This deep foundation all around the beams ensures that they remain firmly in place and resist any movement or swaying. Each vertical pole is anchored using a combination of reinforced concrete blocks and metal plates. These elements work together to create a foundation that can withstand the forces exerted on the structure over time.
To further enhance the tower’s stability, the vertical beams are connected through triangular bracing (indicated in red), a geometrically stable form that prevents any distortion under pressure. This triangular structure ensures that the watch tower remains secure even in the face of strong wind gusts or other external forces. The overall result is a resilient, stable structure that combines both function and beauty, integrating seamlessly into the environment of Artis Zoo.
Structural Integrity and Vertical Load Transfer
The tower’s design is centered around the need for both structural integrity and minimal visual disruption to the environment. The primary structural elements are the vertical wooden beams, which play a crucial role in transferring vertical loads. As visitors step onto the platforms, their weight is transferred through these beams (shown in yellow in the drawings), which are securely anchored into the ground. This vertical load transfer system ensures the stability of the entire structure, allowing it to support not only the weight of the visitors but also additional forces, such as the potential accumulation of snow on the roof. The roof structure, like the platforms, is supported by smaller poles (depicted in green in the drawings) that are also connected to the main vertical beams.