Observation tower Hardwald

Luna Productions

Building of the Year 2023, swiss-architects

The Hardwald Observation Tower, standing 41 meters tall, is designed to be a landmark in the recreational area of the Zurich metropolitan region. Rising above the treetops, it is visible from afar and draws visitors into the forest.

Initiated by the Hardwald Forestry District in collaboration with the surrounding municipalities of Opfikon, Kloten, Wallisellen, Bassersdorf, and Dietlikon, the tower is built entirely from timber sourced from the local forest. Each type of wood is used according to its specific structural properties. The primary framework is based on the equilateral triangle, an ideal form for structural stability. Two triangles combine to form diamond shapes, stacked and rotated 60° at each level, creating four viewing platforms in total. The result is a sculptural structure whose silhouette shifts depending on the viewer’s position—when you move, the tower seems to move with you. It begins to dance.

The structure is wrapped in a protective skin. Its semi-open cladding appears either solid or transparent, depending on the angle of view. Forest air flows through the tower, while light and shadow play within its interior.

With its strong skeleton and delicate outer shell, the tower is in a state of constant transformation. It presents a different face depending on your viewpoint, the time of day, or its aging over time—making it far more than a static object.