In Heřmanice, there will be a lookout tower in the shape of a cucumber

photo: Mjölk architects

Heřmanice (Liberecko) - A new observation tower in the shape of a cucumber is rising in Heřmanice in the Liberec region. However, some say its shape resembles a penis more. The wooden structure is expected to be completed by the end of this September, said the mayor of the municipality, Vladimír Stříbrný, to ČTK.
"The view won't be bad. From here, you can see the Jizera and Lusatian mountains, the Zittau basin, part of Heřmanice, Dětřichov, and the Turów power plant in Poland," said the mayor.
The municipality near the Polish border has never had an observation tower. The idea to build one was proposed a few years ago by architects from the Mjölk studio in Liberec. "We sketched it for ourselves, then looked for a supportive mayor and found one in Heřmanice," said architect Jan Mach, the author of the design. According to the mayor, their proposal seemed useful at the time. "When we were planning the construction of a bike path, we wanted to have some attraction along it, and we liked this," he said.
The observation tower, originally intended to be built over three years ago, faced complications with securing a loan from the bank and was later struck by devastating floods.
The original project has also changed, and the building will ultimately be straight. "We wanted to have a curved observation tower, a little more dynamic. However, we compromised due to the budget," explained Mach. The construction of the tower will require 3.6 million crowns, while the curvature would have increased the cost by about a million crowns. The top of the tower also had to be adjusted, allowing visitors to experience an unusually two-level observation deck. "Since designing it four years ago, the surrounding trees have grown and partially obstructed the view," explained the architect regarding the changes.
The wooden structure, standing on 48 legs, has a diameter of five meters. For its height, the tower is relatively slender, so visitors at the top will feel a slight sway. However, there is no danger to them. Unlike other observation towers in the area, tourists going up will not meet those coming down, as there is a double spiral staircase. The railing made of bent boards is also unusual. "It’s an unusual construction that hardly anyone attempts today," noted Mach. The tower will be built from 30 cubic meters of quality larch, which should gradually turn gray.
The observation tower is part of a project to construct a bike path that will lead from Poland through Heřmanice to Dětřichov. "We received funding from the Czech-Polish program Goal 3," said the mayor. On the Czech side, 7.5 kilometers of paths will be added, five of which will be new. They will connect to other trails, such as the Smuggler's or Krakonoš bike paths. The construction of the bike path and observation tower will cost around seven million crowns.