Stockholm-based Ulf Mejergren Architects’ newest installation, Offcut Hut, on the Esperöd Farm near Lilla Edet in southern Sweden, carries forward the concept conceived for the larger land art trail by the eponymous architecture studio earlier this year. Conceived in its present form after a storm struck the town and toppled over 200 trees on the Esperöd Farm, the vision for this land art trail is pivoted on the theme ‘After the Storm’. Swedish artist and architect Ulf Mejergren plans to design and make a series of installations using materials left behind after the storm. The first in this series was Zombie Tree, a public art piece that doubles as a lookout on the farm. It was made by resurrecting a fallen tree, a process further emphasised by visually emulating the traditional Sami structure njalla.

Offcut Hut, another lookout spot within the expansive four-acre Esperöd Farm, is the second in this series of public installations made from materials salvaged after the storm. For Offcut Hut, the Swedish architect utilised timber offcuts to conceive an alluring installation towering at the height of five metres. The offcuts are remnants of timber after larger sections of the wood are cut at precise dimensions for a particular project.

“After a recent storm felled several trees, we processed a batch of timber, yielding an abundance of long, slender offcuts, still encased in their bark. Measuring approximately five meters in length, these offcuts, though large, were surprisingly lightweight and manageable, allowing us to transport them without the need for heavy machinery or specialised tools,” Mejergren shares in an official press release. While these remnants, irregular in size and shape, are often classified as by-products or waste, Mejergren’s vision for the land art trail within Esperöd Farm seeks to change this normative idea of waste by transforming the offcuts into functional and appealing infrastructures.

The form of Offcut Hut is inspired by the organic quality and form of timber offcuts, hence the name of the installation. “When we saw the long, slender pieces of timber, still encased in their bark, they reminded us of standing trees. This led to the idea of creating a structure that would mimic the natural growth patterns of trees, with the offcuts stacked vertically in overlapping rows to create the impression of a towering tree trunk,” Mejergren shares with STIR.

Instead of chiselling down the wood sections into perfect analogous pieces, Mejergren conceived a form wherein the aesthetic quality of the offcuts would not change. The offcuts, assembled in the aftermath of the storm, were stacked against each other manually to form the walls of the tower. Its core structure, also made using offcuts, houses a spiral staircase. Upon ascending these stairs, one reaches the elevated viewing point, which comprises a panoramic window carefully cut from the offcuts at the top of the tower.  At a time, the viewing point can accommodate three to four people.

While the circular lookout tower stands tall at five metres, with a diameter of around 1.5 metres at its base, this circular footprint of the structure shrinks slightly as the offcuts rise in a natural, organic formation. With its trunk-like appearance and organic materiality, the structure seamlessly fits into its contextual landscape, which comprises the river bank and a grove of trees, some of which are cherry trees. This proximal landscape serves a brilliant view from the vantage point of the panoramic window. “In season, you might even be able to reach out and pluck cherries from the nearby branches while basking in the tranquillity of the scene,” the architect affirms.

Apart from timber offcuts, some other materials and tools that were utilised to shape Offcut Hut are concrete plinth to keep the structure safe from strong winds frequent in the area, basic carpentry tools such as saws, drills and chisels for shaping the timber and installing the staircase and a weather-resistant sealant applied in areas prone to moisture.

During the construction process of the timber architecture, the architects faced slight challenges in handling the irregular shapes and sizes of the timber offcuts. Since each piece was unique, it was challenging to stack them in a manner that would be structurally sound and visually appealing. “We overcame this by carefully selecting and arranging the pieces based on their size, shape and natural orientation, which allowed us to create a balanced and sturdy structure,” the studio shares. Further, to ensure the structural stability of the vertical stacking, Mejergren used reinforcement methods such as steel pins and dowels to securely hold the offcuts in place without compromising their natural appearance.

When asked how the timber construction of Offcut Hut needs to be maintained to ensure a long life cycle, Mejergren shares, “The bark and timber may naturally degrade over time, so regular inspections are necessary to monitor any wear or rot. As the structure is exposed to natural elements, it is important to reapply protective sealant to prevent water damage. Depending on the weather conditions, the spiral staircase and platform may need to be cleaned to prevent the build-up of dirt or moss.” Mejergren surmises that the structure will stay intact for several decades with proper care and maintenance.

Project Details

Name: Offcut Hut
Location: Lilla Edet, Sweden
Builders/Landowners: Travis Child & Therese Corneliusson
Project funded by: LEADER, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
Architect: Ulf Mejergren Architects
Year of Completion: 2024