MK Forty Tower

To mark the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the city of Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Gallery invited dRMM to design a temporary artwork. dRMM proposed a tower to conceptually contrast with the predominant horizontality of the city, and to offer an opportunity for visitors to climb the tower and discover views across the city. MK Forty Tower is a 19m tall freestanding structure, pre-fabricated in sections made of 162mm thick cross-laminated timber. Erected in seven days, the tower opened to the public in August 2007. Over 5,500 people climbed 101 wooden steps to take in the view. At the base, a shipping container housed a coffee bar, the interior lined with the work of artist Richard Woods. An accompanying exhibition documented dRMM�s pioneering work in timber construction techniques. The tower was disassembled in July 2008. As no glues were used, it was simply unscrewed in three sections. In this way it can be quickly reassembled upon announcement of its new home.