Schönbuchturm

The look-out tower situated on top of the Stellberg hill at the fringes of the national park functions as a new attraction for leisure travellers. Its structure comprises eight timber masts, three circular viewing platforms, and two spiralled steel stairs, stabilized by a filigree exterior cable net made of stainless steel. The platforms are fastened to the masts and the cable net. Diverging towards the top, the timber masts that consist of individual members arranged between the platforms form a striking silhouette. Glue-laminated larch wood is used for the masts. In the area of the end grains and the connection to the stairs the details have been judiciously planned to assure constructive wood preservation. Furthermore, the supports can be easily replaced to avoid cumbersome and expensive maintenance measures. By means of jacks the mast elements between two platforms can be relieved from their load to replace them without additional staying of the tower. Another benefit is the easier transport of short segments. Since the hill used to be an earth and garbage dump, the foundation and the settling behaviour required special attention. Penetration was not possible due to the site’s legacy. Consequently, the tower is supported by a flat foundation. The volume of soil removed equals the weight of the structure. The tower’s shape and position makes it a new landmark of the region that can be seen from far away. Particular features of the tower include the innovative use of massive timber in combination with the steel construction and the thin cables. Their interaction facilitates an elegant and lightweight construction.