The Våga Water Tower in Varberg

A jury comprising representatives from Vivab and Varberg Municipality selected White Arkitekter’s proposal, Våga, as the winner. In Swedish, the word “våga” holds the dual meaning of “wave” and “dare”. The name ‘Våga’ thus reflects the design concept while also serving as an encouragement: to dare to believe in a world-unique water tower design. Departing from the traditional cylindrical shape, White’s proposal featured a horizontal, elongated, and wave-like silhouette – a tribute to the coastal identity of Varberg.

A Line in the Flat Landscape

Våga stretches 187 meters in length but is only 9 meters wide. The water reservoir is supported by nine pillars, the central one uniquely shaped to house an elevator and staircase. The reservoir is divided into eight identical concrete segments with a concave profile, creating a stunning interplay of light and shadow on the façade during the morning and evening sun.

The wave-shaped silhouette establishes a landmark that symbolizes both the water tower’s and Varberg’s strong connection to water.

With its elongated form, Våga traces a line across the flat rural landscape. Its shape connects to a Halland tradition of linear large-scale infrastructure, including the long rows of wind turbines along the E6 motorway and the UNESCO-listed Grimeton Radio Station with its massive longwave antennas.

Meticulous Detailing Despite Massive Scale

Despite its monumental size, great care has been taken to maintain a human scale. The westernmost part of the site serves as a natural viewpoint, offering distant glimpses of the sea. The tower’s placement was carefully adjusted to preserve a plateau in front of it, creating a welcoming space for visitors.

A closer look at the pillars reveals the meticulous attention given to the handling of vast amounts of concrete. In contrast to standard practice, where triangular fillets are used to simplify formwork removal, Våga’s edges feature softer, concave moldings, sourced from ordinary hardware stores. The resulting corner detail gives a gentler impression and conveys the care given to the design up close. In total, approximately 1,800 meters of molding were used.

Special attention was also given to the appearance of the concrete. The casting was done against form-plywood sheets to achieve a smooth finish, with joints and segment marks meticulously aligned for a harmonious overall impression. Plugged holes, where formwork ties were placed, further enhance the clean aesthetic, eliminating unwanted shadow effects.

From Vision to Reality

Våga is the result of a design-and-build collaboration between Vivab and Veidekke, with White Arkitekter developing a comprehensive design program detailing the importance of each architectural element. This document was established early on and guided the project throughout its construction.

Vivab’s vision of creating both a landmark and a space for recreation continued to refine the design to the very end. In consultation with Varberg’s municipal ecologist, wildflowers were sown beneath the tower, and the service road was enriched with topsoil to transform it into a green, unassuming gravel path.