Lothurm, Wooden observation tower in Lamboing, Switzerland
The Lothurm was a wooden observation tower on the Plateau de Diesse built entirely from Douglas fir trunks and black pine decking. It rose to about 25 meters with a viewing platform near its top and could be reached from the village of Lamboing.
The structure was built between June and September 2003 as a memorial to the 1999 storm Lothar, which had felled millions of trees across Switzerland. The project was meant to symbolize forest renewal after this natural disaster.
The tower was built as a community project with sponsor names marked on its steps, showing how local people came together after a natural disaster. This connection between the structure and those who supported its construction made visitors feel part of a shared recovery story.
The tower could be reached via paths from Lamboing village and offered views across the surrounding plateau and forest on clear days. Visitors would need sturdy shoes and time to climb the 99 steps to reach the viewing platform.
The wood came from the local municipal Malewagwald forest and was built without chemical treatments or protective coatings. This natural building approach allowed the structure to eventually return to the forest as it aged.
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