Norway’s Seljord Lookout Point Peers Out to the Water Searching for the Selma Sea Monster

Lake Seljord is inhabited by a giant eel-like sea monster named <a href="http://www.xprojectmagazine.com/archives/cryptozoology/selmatrap.html" target="_blank">Selma</a> who overturns boats and dances on the water -- or so say the residents of <a href="http://www.seljordportalen.no/kategori.php?gruppe_id=38" target="_blank">Seljord, Norway</a>. Like Nessie, Bigfoot, and the Yeti, there are hundreds of witnesses who have seen Selma in the lake, but there is little credible evidence to prove she is a reality. But that doesn't stop the tourists visiting the famous Lake Seljord from attempting to catch a glimpse of her. In 2008, the town decided to capitalize on the lore by building a lookout tower for visitors to use while seeking out for Selma. Designed by <a href="http://www.rintalaeggertsson.com/0.html" target="_blank">Rintala Eggertsson Architects</a>, the Seljord Lookout Point is made completely of wood and provides a new way for visitors to experience nature, and of course, hunt for sea monsters.

The municipality of Seljord commissioned the Oslo-based firm to design a series lookout points around the lake for visitors and locals to experience the lake in new ways.

The project consisted of two parts to install a few small lookout points at the mid- and southeast sections of the lake and then to install a larger lookout tower and exhibition area at the southwest end of the lake.

Rintala Eggertsoon worked with art- and architecture students and teachers from <a href="http://www.naba.it/" target="_blank">Nuova Accademia di Belle Arte and Politecnico</a> in Milan and scenography students from the <a href="http://www.hiof.no/eng/english/faculties/norwegian-theatre-academy&amp;PHPSESSID=asgcc0b88fns2pj30ig435tgk1" target="_blank">Norwegian Theatre Academy</a> in a building workshop to come up with the smaller viewing shelters around the lake.

The results of their efforts was a series of three shelters called “Into the Landscape” that provide functional space in the natural landscape without dominating the surrounding environment.

The lookout tower then was located on a site with two pine trees with large canopies that create a natural place for rest and recreation.

Built completely out of local wood, the tower provides three spaces in which to observe nature - the first faces a bird nesting area, the second is at the top of the tree canopies and the third is the largest and looks out over the lake.

A smaller building off to the side connected via decking serves as exhibition space.

The lookout tower works to ease the visitor from the parking lot to the lake and provides a means by which to experience the lake in a new way.

At night, interior lights illuminate the space and cast shadows of visitors moving about inside.

The tower encourages interaction, observation and a bit of mystery with a chance of seeing a <a href="http://www.seljordportalen.no/kategori.php?gruppe_id=38" target="_blank">giant sea monster</a>.

Rendering of the tower and adjacent exhibition space.

The tower and smaller exhibition space are built around a two trees.

Site plan of the tower in comparison to the lake.