Oscar-von-Miller Tower

Ludwig-Prandtl-Straße, Garching, Germany

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Oscar-von-Miller Tower

Ludwig-Prandtl-Straße, Garching, Germany

Firm

Deubzer König + Rimmel Architekten

Type

Industrial › Research Facility

YEAR

2011

As seen in the site map, the Oskar von Miller Tower has its oval ground plan aligned in east-west direction; two cubic bodies are inserted into the building from the south, the entrance on the ground floor with its two large sliding doors, above that the measuring box. This is for meteorologists to maintain the facility and evaluate the measurement results. Access is additionally possible via a spiral staircase on the east side.The weather tower consists of horizontally stacked glass rings, which are staggered by measurement levels (5, 10, 20, and 35m) with four booms pointing north, south, east, and west. The top measurement level is arranged vertically as a single measurement point. The shells’ ground plan shape consists of the geometric addition of two ellipses. In the west vertex of the buildings’ cubature contains the only geometric point which is consistently vertical. Apart from that, the rings continuously narrow from the bottom to the top. The instruments are fastened to the booms on sledges, so that they can be pulled into the inside of the tower for maintenance and testing.The necessary length of the measurement booms was checked by using a model in the wind tunnel of the TU Munich and the institute for aerodynamics, thus guaranteeing that the cubature of the tower does not interfere with the climatic measurements due to aerodynamic turbulence.Access to the various maintenance levels is provided via a lift in the west core. The meteorological institute has been performing climatic readings on the Garching campus since 1961. These are officially required for the safe operation of the TUM’s Neutron Research Source (FRM II). The atmospheric variables relevant to the spread of pollutants are continually measured and sent to operator and authorities. Wind and temperature profile is the main priority. In addition to that, all measurements relevant to climatology and teaching are collected. This includes rainfall, air pressure, radiation, and certain meteorological data such as temperature, moisture levels, solar intensity and wind speed.It is not intended for public use. Temporary guided tours and Courses are planned.