repurposed timber offcuts build up lookout tower by UMA and esperöd art team
the vertical overlapping layers of timber offcuts create a circular tower that mimics a natural tree trunk.
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.
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.
1/2
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
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
