Lions Maungatautari observation tower

Roger Williams

The Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust has been formed to create a pest-free forest so that native plants, trees, insects and birds have a safe environment to live.

The observation tower was built to act as an educational facility and tourist attraction for viewing the forest botany and birdlife, from the forest floor to forest canopy. substitute. UniLog Poles and custom-designed hot-dipped galvanized steel brackets were used for the construction of the 16m tower. Both were manufactured exclusively by TTT Products Limited. The space frame structure mimics the form of adjacent Rata trees with their multi-stemmed woven trunks. The stairs wind their way up the tower, as do the younger vines up the Rata itself. The tower is triangular and has viewing landings at each corner of the seven flights, as well as a larger triangular platform at the top. The landings provide rest and observation points on the way to the top. The stair landings cantilever in both directions to achieve corners that appear to float amongst the trees. The extensive use of timber has created a structure that is almost invisible amongst the dense forest.

Location:

Waikato, New Zealand

Engineering Design:

TTT Products Limited.

Awards:

2006 Origin Timber Design Award