The Tower, Sussex Prairies

It now stands as a playful addition to the collection of buildings at the Sussex Prairie Gardens allowing visitors panoramic views over the swathes of prairie planting as well as our clients’ own out of hours crows nest terrace.

The cylindrical steel tower echoes the character of a grain silo. Its language, as with the adjacent buildings, plays on this vernacular. It avoids over refinement or complexity but is simple and direct using an economy of means, constructed entirely from one single material in standard sheet and profile sizes, both to emphasise its form and simplify its procurement.

Externally the tower is clad in rolled sheets that brace the PFC frame. Inside the drum a helical stair winds up two storeys past a bridge connecting to the barn’s first-floor living space. On the way a variety of circular cut-outs are positioned to frame views and suit the different ages who visit the garden.

The design was detailed in close collaboration with engineer Structure Workshop and fabricator Cranbrook Iron, enjoying the limitations of budget, access and a necessarily low-tech approach to fabrication and erection.

All components were fully templated to take account of curvature tolerances before the tower was fabricated and erected in the workshop. Transported in parts, it was then reassembled on site by the client and fabricator with a purpose-built rotating hoist. Both client and visitors can now climb through its rough steel belly to enjoy expansive views across the gardens, surrounding landscapes, and the South Downs beyond.