Big-Bjarke Ingels Group

Marsk Tower

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj

MARSK TOWER

BIG

CATEGORY
Watching Tower

LOCATION
Hjemsted, Denmark

YEAR
2021

PHOTOGRAPHS
Rasmus Hjortshoj

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
AFRY

CONSTRUCTION
HB Trapper

PARTNERS IN CHARGE
Bjarke Ingels, Jakob Lange

PROJECT LEADER
Tobias Hjortdal

PROJECT TEAM
Matilda Blomgren, Annette Jensen, Erik Kreider, Joshua Woo, Federico Martinez De Sola, Stefan Plugaru

The 25-meter-high Marsk Tower – translated as “Marsh Tower” due to its location in the marshlands of Denmark’s popular National Park, Wadden Sea – offers expansive views of the natural environment.

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj

Appearing as a sculptural art object rising out of the landscape, Marsk Tower will function as an observation lookout that facilitates community as a key tourist landmark.

A wheelchair-accessible tower, an elevator located in the core of the tower provides access via the ground level ramp.

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj

The tower’s simple design, defined by Corten steel materiality, exudes a natural aesthetic that blends with the surrounding environment while simultaneously becoming a new, visible destination in Denmark.

“Because of the earth curvature, visitors will gradually expand their view of the horizon while walking to the top of the tower.

On the foot of the tower, you will be able to see 4 km into the distance, but from the top of the tower the view is expanded to an 18 km view into the horizon,” says Jakob Lange, Architect and Partner, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj

“The stairs widen at the top of the tower, creating a 110 meter-squared lookout spot with views stretching to the city of Esbjerg, the Islands Rømø and Sylt, and beyond the Wadden Sea to the North Sea.”

BIG worked on the design for the observation tower as part of a local partnership with Marsk Camp Group to create an experiential destination that presents the unique landscape from a new perspective to tourists all over the world.

Wadden Sea National Park is one of the last remaining large-scale intertidal ecosystems in the world and is widely known for its unique natural environment of sea, dune, woods, heaths, fauna, and wildlife.

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj

“Marsk tower is a testament to our two-decades-long friendship and collaboration with the blacksmiths of Schacks Trapper,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.

“The double helix provides two stairs and an elevator with a single stack of rotating steel steps, allowing visitors to ascend and descend in a single spiraling loop from the sand to the sky – connecting the marsh land to the Wadden Sea.”

Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj


Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj


Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj
Marsk Tower
© Rasmus Hjortshoj


Marsk Tower
Floor plan
Marsk Tower
Section

Big-Bjarke Ingels Group
T +45 7221 7227 F +45 3512 7227
Big-Bjarke Ingels Group
Kløverbladsgade 56, 2500 Valby, Copenhagen, Denmark