AESTHETIC INFRASTRUCTURE

Situated on a hill in the village of Träslöv, Sweden, Våga Water Tower has been built to meet the increasing water demand of the municipality, which has experienced rapid population growth since the year 2000.

White Arkitekter's goal for the tower was to create a functional yet sculptural landmark for the area, given the visibility of its elevated site from the E6 motorway and nearby houses, hoping it will showcase a new way to design water towers and demonstrate that infrastructure can also have aesthetic value.

"Våga holds a prominent place in the landscape, but the tower is also designed to be appreciated up close," said studio architect Agnes Orstadius. "Our ambition was to create a structure that will stand for centuries and always remain beautiful."

Våga Water Tower's undulating, concrete reservoir is supported by nine slender columns, with the central one slightly widened to house an elevator and staircase. The reservoir itself is divided into eight segments each with a concave facade, designed to create decorative play of light and shadow over the day. The concrete structure was cast against form-plywood sheets to achieve a smooth finish, with all the joints deliberately and carefully aligned for a harmonious overall impression.

White Arkitekter designed the Våga Water Tower after winning an invited competition held by the municipal water company Vivab. The competition called for a landmark structure that could be built entirely of concrete and hold 10,000 cubic metres of water – five times the capacity of the original tower.

White Arkitekter's design was selected for its long undulating form, which measures 187 metres in length and nine in width, and pays homage to the coastal setting of Varberg. "The sleek, elongated form represents innovative thinking about what a water tower can be while maintaining functionality and ease of maintenance," said Vivab representative Margareta Björksund-Tuominen.

Våga Water Tower
Location Träslöv, Sweden
Architect White Arkitekter
Photography Anna Kristinsdóttir and Joacim Winqvist