THK Tower

Welcome to the THK Tower a symbolic lighthouse located in the village of Nuanu in Bali Indonesia. THK means “Tri Hita Karana” based on the Balinese philosophy, which emphasises harmony between people, nature, and the divine. The tower is a beacon of eco-parametric and circular architecture. The core of this 25m high tower is made from ironwood reclaimed from an old colonial bridge and repurposed for the central structural elements of the tower, as well as the staircase, floors and balustrades. The ironwood pieces still have traces of their hundreds of years of presence in the sea through little seashells that have accumulated on them without affecting their structural strength.

The tower is a secular temple rooted in ancient wisdom, inviting people to partake in special rituals, from weddings to open discussions, or any event that seeks a sense of elevation. Offering a 360-degree view of Bali, it showcases the beauty of the ocean, the city of Denpasar, and Canggu, where rice fields seamlessly blend with surrounding houses, reflecting harmony between nature and urban life. At night, the tower transforms into a canvas for artists, with projection towers enabling them to express their art in sync with the tower’s architecture. An antenna at its peak sends messages into space, symbolizing the tower’s role in reconnecting us with each other and with the unknown. How will you experience this unique structure?

The tower’s design features a graceful skirt that balances its strong core, creating a beautiful contrast between strength and fragility. This delicate outer layer is made from rattan, a material that thrives in tropical regions like Southeast Asia. Its rapid growth and regenerative properties make it an ideal choice for the tower’s skin. Instead of relying on petroleum-based epoxy often used with bamboo, we chose to bundle the rattan tightly and treat it with copper sulfate to prevent bacterial growth. To reinforce it, we used a bio-epoxy derived from cooking oil, further emphasizing sustainability.

The skin itself is a canvas, with its flowing, wavy pattern resembling a river, inviting you to explore. It guides you toward two intertwining staircases, reminiscent of a DNA helix—one for ascending, the other for descending. The tower beckons people to participate in special rituals yet to be defined, whether for weddings, discussions, or any event that seeks a sense of elevation. Rooted in ancient wisdom, the tower serves as a secular temple, offering a space for connection and reflection.

“To give a new life to an abandoned bridge. To celebrate Balinese wisdom. To show fragility in strength and strength in fragility. To show what circular architecture could be. To use abundant and renewable materials instead of depleting inorganic ones. To show from above how beautiful Bali is. To give another perspective.

THK Tower is our first-ever permanent installation in Asia. A key part of the process was understanding the lifecycle of every strip of rattan and ulin (known as ‘iron wood’ in English), which we reclaimed to keep the tower as circular as possible.

What I love about these materials is that the reclaimed timber carries the marks of time, having been exposed to the elements for hundreds of years. Meanwhile, the rattan will naturally change colour as it weathers over time. The idea is for the installation to be dynamic—a living, breathing piece of art that reflects its evolving Balinese context.

I am proud of the whole THK Tower team involved, from the design team all the way to the timber suppliers, the engineers, the people who installed it and our project managers – it’s been a fantastic collective effort”

Launched on September 13, 2024, and available to the public.

The tower’s design features a graceful skirt that balances its strong core, creating a beautiful contrast between strength and fragility. This delicate outer layer is made from rattan, a material that thrives in tropical regions like Southeast Asia. Its rapid growth and regenerative properties make it an ideal choice for the tower’s skin. Instead of relying on petroleum-based epoxy often used with bamboo, we chose to bundle the rattan tightly and treat it with copper sulfate to prevent bacterial growth. To reinforce it, we used a bio-epoxy derived from cooking oil, further emphasising sustainability.

Built to withstand powerful hurricanes, the tower has a strong, resilient core made of reclaimed ironwood, a material so dense it sinks in water. This showcases that true strength can come from materials that grow and regenerate, rather than those extracted or depleted, like concrete or steel. The tower stands as a vertical testament to natural strength, balanced by a soft, graceful outer skin that begins low to the ground and gently spirals upward, merging strength with beauty in its design.