The Pompentoren, is a former pump tower located in rural Belgium, a unique building in an exemplary landscape, with a unique connection between architecture and landscape.
The Pompentoren is centrally located as one of many objects within the Horizon 2025 Project and thus forms the heart of this larger project. The project aims to create a network of landscape lookout towers to increase the attractiveness of the four tourist regions in Belgium. The original Pompentoren has fallen into disuse since 1986. With the transformation into a lookout tower the preservation of the story, identity and elegance comes first – as a destination on the recreational cycle route G62.
Previously forgotten and hidden away it was the aim to transform the tower and create a landmark and look out point along the former railway line, now known as the G62, that travels through west Flanders. The former function of the Pompentoren and how it had come to fruition made it a fascinating story of architecture, landscape and engineering working together. A small tower with a larger function within the landscape around it. In the transformation of the tower to a lookout tower, our aim was to translate the story of the past function and integrate it into its future.
SALT AND FRESH
Architecture, landscape and engineering come together at the Pompentoren in Eernegem. In the 19th century a railway line was built between Torhout and Ostend. The steam locomotives that travelled along this line were not able to use the salty and calcareous water found in the Ostend area, the final stop of the 62 line. Therefore, an alternative water source was created at Eernegem. Here the water is fresh, very low in lime and therefore much more suitable for use for the locomotives. To supply enough fresh water a reservoir was excavated in 1870 and the pump tower built with the function of sending the required water along a 16-kilometre pipeline to Ostend. With the end of the use of the locomotive the Pompentoren was no longer required and was since forgotten.
The translation of this story was the key inspiration for the new lookout tower. To create the lookout tower the former pump tower has been divided. The lower part of the tower has been refurbished and remains connected to the immediate landscape, connecting to the reservoir and pathway for visitors of the G62, with views and stories of the fresh water and landscape that it creates. The top portion of the tower has been raised, connecting it to the landscape beyond – the salt landscape, with views of the coast and where the water travelled and was used. The connection between fresh and salt is created by a steel structure that spirals to the top of the tower.
BUILD AS PUMP TOWER….
The design takes the story and materialization of the existing tower as a starting point, to preserve the old tower and give it a new life whilst respecting the existing. Even though the building only has a limited heritage value and monumental value, the Pompentoren does have great emotional value as a landmark in the landscape. Centrally located in its rural surroundings, this was the starting point. The restoration of this story and of the existing structure. Much time and attention has been used to restore the existing brickwork of the original tower.
USED AS LOOKOUT TOWER….
For the transformation to lookout tower it was decided not to add an extra volume or build on top of the existing tower but to integrate it in the new function. The characteristic appearance and architecture of the existing tower is preserved and with a radical, yet simple intervention the tower is lifted to become the new lookout tower. The top layer is disconnected from the bottom, the middle part is provided with a new and very transparent construction, and the top layer becomes the viewing platform. The previously closed, introverted Pompentoren suddenly takes on a more light-hearted, expressive character; the viewing platform seems to break the rules of gravity and the lookout tower, through its transparency, enters a dialogue with its surroundings.
The Pompentoren lookout tower highlights and tells the story of the engineering ingenuity of the past with engineering of our time. A balance of preservation and innovation, it connects the story and value of water and landscape of the past and connects it to the recreational landscape of today.
Architecture offices involved in the design: Studio BLAD & Studio Pallesh
Location: Statiebeekstraat, Eernegem, Belgium
Design year: 2018-2023
Year Completed: 2024
