repurposed timber offcuts build up lookout tower by UMA and esperöd art team

UMA and Esperöd Art Team build Offcut Hut out of timber offcuts

Offcut Hut by Ulf Mejergren Architects (UMA) and Esperöd Art Team is a lookout tower constructed from timber offcuts, highlighting the architectural potential of materials typically classified as byproducts. Positioned near a riverbank in Lilla Edet, Sweden, and surrounded by trees, the structure utilizes offcuts left after the precise processing of larger timber sections, which were repurposed following a storm that felled several trees.

The offcuts, approximately five meters long, were lightweight and manageable, enabling easy transport and construction without the need for heavy machinery. Placed vertically in overlapping layers, they form a circular tower that mimics the appearance of a natural tree trunk emerging from the landscape. The structure’s design reflects the offcuts’ original state as standing trees, creating a seamless blend with its natural surroundings.

all images courtesy of Ulf Mejergren Architects

repurposed timber spiral staircase expands within Offcut Hut

Inside the tower’s core, a spiral staircase constructed from the same material leads visitors to an elevated platform. At the top, a window cut into the timber frames views of the river and surrounding grove, with nearby cherry trees adding to the scenic backdrop. The structure serves as both a functional lookout and an exploration of how discarded materials can be transformed into aesthetically pleasing, sustainable designs that integrate with the environment. Offcut Hut by UMA creative studio encourages a reevaluation of timber offcuts, redefining them as elements of beauty and utility in architectural practice.

Offcut Hut by UMA and Esperöd Art Team reimagines timber offcuts as architectural elements

located by a riverbank in Lilla Edet, Sweden, the lookout tower is built entirely from repurposed timber

timber offcuts, left over after processing larger sections, were transformed into the towering Offcut Hut

the structure’s vertical design mimics a natural tree trunk, blending into the forested landscape

the offcuts measure around five meters in length, lightweight enough to be handled without machinery

the overlapping layers of timber offcuts create the circular tower harmonizing with its natural surroundings

the design reflects the original standing position of the trees, giving the structure an organic quality

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staircase, also made out of offcuts

diagram

project info:

name: Offcut Hut
designer: Ulf Mejergren | @ulfmejergrenarchitects

builders/land owner: Esperöd Art Team (Travis Child & Therese Corneliusson)

funder: LEADER – European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development

location: Lilla Edet, Sweden

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom