- Salus in Arduis
- 2023
Salus in Arduis, latin for “a stronghold (or refuge) in difficult times” refers to the ancient Roman history that the landscape around Viña Lanciano carries. In direct line of sight of the historic Puente Romano de Mantible, the tower’s design was inspired by the architecture of the second century Roman Empire. the bridge, built as a means to allow traversing the river Ebro, was an important piece of infrastructure and therefore a watchtower allowed an elevated view over the landscape and ensured that potential risks could be spotted from far away.
This tower, unlike its Roman precedent, has windows and openings in peculiar shape, form, and placement. A visitor that ascends the ladder to the top floor, will find that those openings offer unusual views of the landscape not possible from the ground. The tower allows a look into the distance from its top floor, but it also allows the visitor to see the surroundings in newly framed views.
The vast surrounding of Viña Lanciano is home to many bird and wildlife species, and so the tower not only exists as a memory of the region’s past, but also as a tool to connect with the present conditions. Similar to a bird watching outlook, this tower functions as a refuge from the everyday—in the great outdoors—offering a unique perspective.