Seljord Watchtower

The myth about a sea serpent in the lake of Seljord has become an integral part of how the local people of Telemark conceive their majestic landscape. Tales about mysterious phenomena in the lake have flourished for centuries and are a natural part of the daily life in the area. In 2008, the municipality of Seljord decided to use this mythical feature as a point of departure for a development programme for the area. Together with the curators Springer kulturstudio and Feste Grenland, they commissioned Rintala Eggertsson Architects to design different lookout points around the lake to ease the access for local population and visitors to experience the lake at some important places.

The assignment was divided into two parts; first to design three small installations in the mid and southeast section of the lake and then to design a larger viewpoint in the northwest end of the lake. The site for the main viewpoint was already inhabited by two large pine trees, which became the physical anchoring point of our building. As the room programme listed a viewing platform and a small shelter for exhibitions, the two functions were placed on each side of the trees, with a connecting deck inbetween.

The viewing platform was then given the form of a tower with a main space at the top overlooking the lake and two smaller spaces on the on the lower levels, one facing a nearby bird nesting area and the other one facing the crown of the trees. This organization allows the visitor to get a good perception of the physical surroundings before their encounter with the myths of the Seljord lake. Size: 33,9m2 Sustainability: The watchtower is a close to zero-emission building; lit only by 12 low energy LED-light fixtures and no heating system installed.