The Våga Water Tower
On Bastekullen, just outside central Varberg, stands the water tower Våga. This striking new landmark acts as a symbol of Varberg’s deep connection to the sea and of the vital role of drinking water. With its distinctive silhouette and bold design, Våga is a world unique structure that breaks new ground in water tower architecture.
A Water Tower for a Growing City
Varberg is growing rapidly – since 2000, the population has increased by approximately 30%, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. As the city expands, Vivab, the municipal water company, must meet the rising demand for water, creating a need for a larger and more modern water tower.
To ensure the best possible design, Vivab, in collaboration with the city of Varberg, invited three architecture firms to submit proposals. The brief was clear: the tower would be constructed entirely of concrete and situated on Bastekullen in Träslöv, just east of Varberg’s centre, highly visible from the E6 motorway. The new structure would hold 10,000 cubic metres of water – five times the capacity of its predecessor.
The new tower was not just intended to replace the old one – it was designed to become a new landmark, symbolising the power and sanctity of water, as well as its profound significance to the city.
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.
‘The sleek, elongated form represents innovative thinking about what a water tower can be while maintaining functionality and ease of maintenance,’ says Margareta Björksund-Tuominen, representative of Vivab.
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.
‘All these elements – the slender shape, wave motif, concave façade, and interplay of shadows – make the tower appear entirely different depending on the time of day and viewing angle. This dynamic ensures the tower never ceases to surprise,’ says Per Hultcrantz, Lead Architect, succeeding Mattias Lind.
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.
‘Våga holds a prominent place in the landscape, but the tower is also designed to be appreciated up close. Our ambition was to create a structure that will stand for centuries—and always remain beautiful,’ says Agnes Orstadius, architect.
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.
’When the client is so dedicated to the overall impression of the project, the result is bound to be exceptional. We are proud to have created a design of this caliber to contain and celebrate water, our most vital resource,’ says Per Hultcrantz, Lead Architect.