NEXT Architects completed the Watchtower Einderheide in Bergeijk, which is 26 meters high and offers visitors a panoramic view of the forest and is also a habitat for local bat species. Blending recreation and ecological functions, the watchtower is small but iconic and enhances the local character. It is designed with a spiral staircase leading to the viewing platform, where visitors can enjoy the beauty of the forest from different heights. The structure is made of laminated larch and pine wood, with multiple openings and recesses at different heights, allowing visitors to see a unique perspective as they ascend. The tower's unique shape allows visitors to traverse the forest canopy with an unobstructed view.
In addition to serving as an observation platform, the tower is designed to sustain the local bat population by providing a diverse habitat. There are niches and caves throughout the wooden structure that provide space for bats to perch, mate, and nest. Jeroen Mos proposed the watchtower to support the ecology of bats, replicating the natural conditions and blending perfectly with the forest environment. The woods used in the design, especially laminated larch and thermally preservative pine, contribute to this fusion, providing both structural stability and a naturally rough surface for bats to grip. The base of the tower is made of a concrete foundation that serves as a winter habitat for bats. Prior to this, Amsterdam-based NEXT Architects had also designed other eco-projects, such as the Bat Bridge.
Commissioned by the local municipality and supported by the province of North Brabant, the project was carried out in collaboration with WSP, Mos Ecological Advice and Research and H+N+S Landscape Architects. The Ain Hyde Lookout Tower is a functional landmark in the forest recreation network, combining human interaction and wildlife conservation.
Project Information:
Name: Watchtower
建筑师：NEXT建筑事务所 | @NN+S landscape architects NEXT architects | @nextarchitects
设计团队: Bart Reuser、Marijn Schenk、Michel Schreinemachers、Bobby de Graaf、Douwe Strating、Angelos Chouliaras、Sónia Cunha、Vyasa Koe、Monika Popkiewicz
合作者:H+N+S Landscape H+N+S Landscape Architects、Boskalis、WSP、Mos Ecological Advice and Research、KunstLoc Brabant、Eliane van Elderen、Reijrink Steel Construction、Van De Sande、Supplier Arcon Timber Constructions & Adviesburo CK2
木材承包商公司:Van Dal
Client: Municipality of Belquek, support from the province of Nord-Brabant
Location: Bergeijk, Netherlands
摄影:Karl Banski | @karlbanski_photography Karl Banski | @karlbanski_photography, Koen Mol