Observation Tower

De Gouden Liniaal Architecten designed a small observation tower in the former gravel extraction area of Negenoord which is now transformed into a nature reserve called Maasvalley Riverpark, 2,500 hectares in size, and located on the border between Belgium and The Netherlands, where the Maas river flows.

  The tower is part of a government organization that redevelops all former gravel extraction areas. The architects used local materials excavated from the Maas area: earth, clay and gravel. External walls are made in rammed earth, while the central core is made of sandblasted concrete. To guarantee the quality of the construction in such a humid area, the design team was supported by an international team of experts. The earth-consultants analyzed different local materials, tried different mixes and evaluated them on compression force, abrasion, color and appearance. The chosen mix consisted of 20% gravel, 40% ochre-colored earth, and 40% clay, stabilized with Trasslime.

During construction, workers were trained in mixing, maintaining right humidity in the mix, building formwork, ramming and removing formwork. Every week, field testing of humidity, and laboratory testing of compression force on specimens were done to monitor the quality. The Rammed Earth works took 7 weeks. Around 20 sqm of rammed earth was done every week, working from staircase to staircase, to arrive at 11 meters high.

Observation tower, Negenoord, Dilsen-Stokkem, Belgium
Program: observation tower
Architects: De Gouden Liniaal Architecten
Structural engineering: Util Struktuurstudies
Rammed earth consultants: Craterre, Vessière&Cie, BC Studies
Completion: 2016