Vlooybergtoren, Observation tower in Tielt-Winge, Belgium.
The Vlooybergtoren is an observation tower in Tielt-Winge that stretches 20 meters horizontally and rises 11 meters high. It is built from galvanized steel and weathering steel, materials chosen for their durability and resistance to the elements.
The current tower was built in 2013 after the previous wooden observation structure failed. The municipality of Tielt-Winge held a design competition won by the architects' office Close To Bone. In the night of 29 to 30 June 2018, vandals set hay bales alight with petrol, severely damaging the steel cladding while the metal skeleton remained intact. The restored tower, about 1.5 m taller, was inaugurated on 21 December 2018 by mayor Rudi Beeken and alderman of culture Yvette Duerinckx.
The steel construction earned recognition at the 2014 Staalbouwwedstrijd competition for its innovative design that combines functionality with architectural expression.
The tower stands on the Vlooyberg along the Pastoriestraat in Tielt-Winge, reachable by bike via the node network at junction 27. The 55 steps of 17.5 cm lead up the freestanding stair, so the climb is short but exposed to wind. On clear days the view reaches the cooling towers of Vilvoorde and the headframe of the Beringen coal mine.
The tower's 13 tonnes refer to its total weight, not to steel used against wind: the 11.28 m high, 20 m long frame of galvanised steel is clad in corten steel, whose rust-brown tone matches the iron-bearing sandstone beneath the Vlooyberg. It rests on a small solid concrete base and is held upright by twelve cables, each 35 m long, anchored in the foundations.
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