Results: Observation Tower

The complete list of awarded projects for the “Observation Tower” competition, organized by Archibest Competitions, has officially been released!

Results: Observation Tower Competition

The complete list of awarded projects for the “Observation Tower” competition, organized by Archibest Competitions, has officially been released!

An observation tower is far more than a physical viewpoint; it acts as a gateway between earth and sky, offering a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our surroundings. This open challenge invited designers worldwide to move past conventional viewing platforms and conceptualize an entire upward journey—an architectural experience that awakens curiosity and wonder.

The Challenge & Creative Freedom

With no fixed site for this competition, participants were granted complete freedom to select or imagine a location that best supported their design concept. Submissions spanned a rich variety of settings, from dense urban plazas to rugged mountain peaks and quiet coastal edges. What mattered most to the jury was how the chosen context strengthened the symbolism and architectural intent of the tower.

Rather than focusing purely on programmatic requirements, the brief pushed for deep material awareness, conceptual clarity, and structural ingenuity. Form, landscape, and materiality had to co-exist in total harmony, allowing the structure to live organically within its environment while remaining fully buildable in spirit.

Jury Insights & Shared Themes

The international jury panel selected prize winners and honorable mentions based on their clear architectural expression and spatial intelligence. Several strong, recurring themes emerged across the top entries:

The Tower as a Journey: Transforming the vertical ascent into a rich, sensory experience where light and material presence shape the journey upward.
Contextual Dialogue: Using local topography or geography as a generative force to blend bold forms with sensitive landscape integration.
Scalability & Structure: Prioritizing modular frameworks, structural logic, and lightweight construction approaches that respect the ecological setting.

Ultimately, the awarded schemes went beyond designing an object to look out from; they created spaces that inspire exploration and invite visitors to rise above the ordinary.

We are thrilled to present the complete showcase of visionary designs below. Huge congratulations to all the winners, honorable mentions, and participants for their immense creativity and dedication!