Perched on brick bases or metal stilts, water towers cut sharp profiles on skylines across the world. Made all the more iconic by legendary photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, these striking structures often evoke fierce local affection – a sentiment that has saved many from the wrecking ball long after they have become defunct.
Architects are now wising up to their potential for adaptive reuse. Water towers are being turned into everything from holiday retreats to restaurants and community spaces, all with a very distinct DNA.
Here we bring you some of the most eye-catching reinventions, many of which could be home for a night, a week, or even life.
Appleton Water Tower, Norfolk, UK
Civil engineers Robert Rawlinson and James Mansergh’s Neo-Byzantine red brick tower on the edge of the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk dates back to the 1870s. A century later, following the lease of the building to The Landmark Trust, Norwich architects Michael and Sheila Gooch made it habitable and added an extended internal staircase. Topped by a crown-like 32,000-gallon cast-iron tank, and recently refurbished by Will Hawkes, this regal, eccentric holiday home offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside at reasonable prices.
Photography courtesy of The Landmark Trust
Appleton Water Tower, Norfolk, UK
Civil engineers Robert Rawlinson and James Mansergh’s Neo-Byzantine red brick tower on the edge of the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk dates back to the 1870s. A century later, following the lease of the building to The Landmark Trust, Norwich architects Michael and Sheila Gooch made it habitable and added an extended internal staircase. Topped by a crown-like 32,000-gallon cast-iron tank, and recently refurbished by Will Hawkes, this regal, eccentric holiday home offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside at reasonable prices.
Photography courtesy of The Landmark Trust
Appleton Water Tower, Norfolk, UK
Civil engineers Robert Rawlinson and James Mansergh’s Neo-Byzantine red brick tower on the edge of the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk dates back to the 1870s. A century later, following the lease of the building to The Landmark Trust, Norwich architects Michael and Sheila Gooch made it habitable and added an extended internal staircase. Topped by a crown-like 32,000-gallon cast-iron tank, and recently refurbished by Will Hawkes, this regal, eccentric holiday home offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside at reasonable prices.
Photography courtesy of The Landmark Trust
Wasserturm Rummelsburg, Berlin, German
Located in the Rummelsburg Bay development area, this 1875 brick tower close to vibrant Friedrichshain in East Berlin has been converted into a holiday home by Beyer-Schubert Architekten. Spread over five levels, with two balconies and a total of 96 steps, it can comfortably sleep four and offers panoramic views of the city. At 22 metres high it’s no Fernsehturm (Berlin’s famous TV tower), but guests will at least be able to spy on the queue at nearby superclub Berghain.
Photography: Giacomo Morelli
Wasserturm Rummelsburg, Berlin, German
Located in the Rummelsburg Bay development area, this 1875 brick tower close to vibrant Friedrichshain in East Berlin has been converted into a holiday home by Beyer-Schubert Architekten. Spread over five levels, with two balconies and a total of 96 steps, it can comfortably sleep four and offers panoramic views of the city. At 22 metres high it’s no Fernsehturm (Berlin’s famous TV tower), but guests will at least be able to spy on the queue at nearby superclub Berghain.
Photography: Giacomo Morelli
Wasserturm Rummelsburg, Berlin, German
Located in the Rummelsburg Bay development area, this 1875 brick tower close to vibrant Friedrichshain in East Berlin has been converted into a holiday home by Beyer-Schubert Architekten. Spread over five levels, with two balconies and a total of 96 steps, it can comfortably sleep four and offers panoramic views of the city. At 22 metres high it’s no Fernsehturm (Berlin’s famous TV tower), but guests will at least be able to spy on the queue at nearby superclub Berghain.
Photography: Giacomo Morelli
Wasserturm Rummelsburg, Berlin, German
Located in the Rummelsburg Bay development area, this 1875 brick tower close to vibrant Friedrichshain in East Berlin has been converted into a holiday home by Beyer-Schubert Architekten. Spread over five levels, with two balconies and a total of 96 steps, it can comfortably sleep four and offers panoramic views of the city. At 22 metres high it’s no Fernsehturm (Berlin’s famous TV tower), but guests will at least be able to spy on the queue at nearby superclub Berghain.
Photography: Giacomo Morelli
Chateau d’eau, Zaventem, Belgium
This mid-20th-century tower was originally renovated by Mauro Brigham of Brussels-based Bham Design Studio as a private home. The structure, which rises imperiously out of the flat Belgian landscape close to the village of Steenokkerzeel, is now primarily used as a business venue with space for up to 50 people. Constructed during WWII, Chateau d’eau has history to match the views from the 30m-high roof terrace, putting stuffy meeting rooms in uninspiring industrial estates into perspective.
Photography: Andreas Meichsner
Chateau d’eau, Zaventem, Belgium
This mid-20th-century tower was originally renovated by Mauro Brigham of Brussels-based Bham Design Studio as a private home. The structure, which rises imperiously out of the flat Belgian landscape close to the village of Steenokkerzeel, is now primarily used as a business venue with space for up to 50 people. Constructed during WWII, Chateau d’eau has history to match the views from the 30m-high roof terrace, putting stuffy meeting rooms in uninspiring industrial estates into perspective.
Photography: Andreas Meichsner
Chateau d’eau, Zaventem, Belgium
This mid-20th-century tower was originally renovated by Mauro Brigham of Brussels-based Bham Design Studio as a private home. The structure, which rises imperiously out of the flat Belgian landscape close to the village of Steenokkerzeel, is now primarily used as a business venue with space for up to 50 people. Constructed during WWII, Chateau d’eau has history to match the views from the 30m-high roof terrace, putting stuffy meeting rooms in uninspiring industrial estates into perspective.
Photography: Andreas Meichsner
Nagyerdei Víztorony, Debrecen, Hungary
Erected in 1913, this still functioning water tower in Debrecen, Hungary, recently added new strings to its bow, with a little help from architects Zoltán Győrffy and Róbert Novák. It now also operates as a bar, cafe, shop and gallery, and comes equipped with an observation deck and a climbing wall. Take a look inside.
Photography: Zsolt Batár
Nagyerdei Víztorony, Debrecen, Hungary
Erected in 1913, this still functioning water tower in Debrecen, Hungary, recently added new strings to its bow, with a little help from architects Zoltán Győrffy and Róbert Novák. It now also operates as a bar, cafe, shop and gallery, and comes equipped with an observation deck and a climbing wall. Take a look inside.
Photography: Zsolt Batár
Water Tower House, London, UK
Designer Tom Dixon’s converted 1920s water tower overlooks the Grand Union Canal in west London, just a short stroll from Portobello Road’s many antique shops. Inside, however, it is anything but antiquated. The tower’s three storeys – connected by a stark spiral staircase – have a minimal feel, with exposed concrete pillars, and 5,000 sq ft of space, containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, a reception area, and a roof terrace.
Photography: James Tarry
Water Tower House, London, UK
Designer Tom Dixon’s converted 1920s water tower overlooks the Grand Union Canal in west London, just a short stroll from Portobello Road’s many antique shops. Inside, however, it is anything but antiquated. The tower’s three storeys – connected by a stark spiral staircase – have a minimal feel, with exposed concrete pillars, and 5,000 sq ft of space, containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, a reception area, and a roof terrace.
Photography: James Tarry
Water Tower House, London, UK
Designer Tom Dixon’s converted 1920s water tower overlooks the Grand Union Canal in west London, just a short stroll from Portobello Road’s many antique shops. Inside, however, it is anything but antiquated. The tower’s three storeys – connected by a stark spiral staircase – have a minimal feel, with exposed concrete pillars, and 5,000 sq ft of space, containing three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, a reception area, and a roof terrace.
Photography: James Tarry
Woning Moereels, Antwerp, Belgium
This early 20th-century structure sits within the grounds of a manor house on the outskirts of Antwerp. It took the late Belgian architect Jo Crepain 17 years to restore and transform the tower into a private residence. Crepain wrapped the core of the tower (one of the first to be built in concrete) in a semi-transparent glass facade. This encases the living areas, which look out over the lush forests of Brasschaat.
Photography courtesy of Crepain Binst Architecture
Woning Moereels, Antwerp, Belgium
This early 20th-century structure sits within the grounds of a manor house on the outskirts of Antwerp. It took the late Belgian architect Jo Crepain 17 years to restore and transform the tower into a private residence. Crepain wrapped the core of the tower (one of the first to be built in concrete) in a semi-transparent glass facade. This encases the living areas, which look out over the lush forests of Brasschaat.
Photography courtesy of Crepain Binst Architecture
Woning Moereels, Antwerp, Belgium
This early 20th-century structure sits within the grounds of a manor house on the outskirts of Antwerp. It took the late Belgian architect Jo Crepain 17 years to restore and transform the tower into a private residence. Crepain wrapped the core of the tower (one of the first to be built in concrete) in a semi-transparent glass facade. This encases the living areas, which look out over the lush forests of Brasschaat.
Photography courtesy of Crepain Binst Architecture
Wasserturm Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s oldest water tower, completed in 1877, is actually the work of an Englishman called Henry Gill, and was built by the English Waterworks Company. Despite its chequered history – an adjacent machine hall, now demolished, served as the Nazis’ first concentration camp – apartments here are highly sought after. One is available to rent for around €55 per night through Airbnb. The tower also houses a performance and gallery space, showing works by the likes of artist Max Eastley.
Balmoral Water Reservoir, Brisbane, Australia
Concrete reservoirs are common in Brisbane. This one in the east of the city was built in 1939 to store rainwater and was converted into a four-bedroom residential property in 1994 by Riddel Architecture (part of Conrad Gargett). Though it may resemble an enormous machine gun pillbox, with walls almost a metre thick in places, a diameter of 22m means the interior is wide open, with spaces arranged around a huge central column and courtyard. Corrugated steel and wood sit alongside original concrete features in this award-winning conversion.
Photography courtesy of Conrad Gargett
Balmoral Water Reservoir, Brisbane, Australia
Concrete reservoirs are common in Brisbane. This one in the east of the city was built in 1939 to store rainwater and was converted into a four-bedroom residential property in 1994 by Riddel Architecture (part of Conrad Gargett). Though it may resemble an enormous machine gun pillbox, with walls almost a metre thick in places, a diameter of 22m means the interior is wide open, with spaces arranged around a huge central column and courtyard. Corrugated steel and wood sit alongside original concrete features in this award-winning conversion.
Photography courtesy of Conrad Gargett
Balmoral Water Reservoir, Brisbane, Australia
Concrete reservoirs are common in Brisbane. This one in the east of the city was built in 1939 to store rainwater and was converted into a four-bedroom residential property in 1994 by Riddel Architecture (part of Conrad Gargett). Though it may resemble an enormous machine gun pillbox, with walls almost a metre thick in places, a diameter of 22m means the interior is wide open, with spaces arranged around a huge central column and courtyard. Corrugated steel and wood sit alongside original concrete features in this award-winning conversion.
Photography courtesy of Conrad Gargett
This converted Edwardian water tower in Kent is architectural marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it. The original 1908 tower forms the backbone of the four-bedroom property, currently on the market for £925,000, with a spiral staircase connecting three levels. Modern additions include a ground-floor, open-plan kitchen and living room, fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass that overlooks the garden and surrounding countryside. Spread over 2,222 sq ft, the property also has an additional reception room, two bathrooms and a study.
Photography courtesy of Madeleine Rose
This converted Edwardian water tower in Kent is architectural marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it. The original 1908 tower forms the backbone of the four-bedroom property, currently on the market for £925,000, with a spiral staircase connecting three levels. Modern additions include a ground-floor, open-plan kitchen and living room, fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass that overlooks the garden and surrounding countryside. Spread over 2,222 sq ft, the property also has an additional reception room, two bathrooms and a study.
Photography courtesy of Madeleine Rose
This converted Edwardian water tower in Kent is architectural marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it. The original 1908 tower forms the backbone of the four-bedroom property, currently on the market for £925,000, with a spiral staircase connecting three levels. Modern additions include a ground-floor, open-plan kitchen and living room, fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass that overlooks the garden and surrounding countryside. Spread over 2,222 sq ft, the property also has an additional reception room, two bathrooms and a study.
Photography courtesy of Madeleine Rose
This converted Edwardian water tower in Kent is architectural marmite: you’ll either love it or hate it. The original 1908 tower forms the backbone of the four-bedroom property, currently on the market for £925,000, with a spiral staircase connecting three levels. Modern additions include a ground-floor, open-plan kitchen and living room, fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass that overlooks the garden and surrounding countryside. Spread over 2,222 sq ft, the property also has an additional reception room, two bathrooms and a study.
Photography courtesy of Madeleine Rose
When a New York City resident wanted to extend his apartment on East 12th Street, he purchased the rights to the water tower on its roof. Messana O’Rorke Architects were charged with transforming it into an ‘urban retreat’: a space for reading, relaxing and listening to music. A vast, cast iron sprinkler tank was cut away from the inside of the terra cotta rotunda, opening up its full volume. Messana O’Rorke also created a skylight in the roof, suspending a disc with a circular hole in it just below in order to diffuse daylight into the space in a manner akin to one of James Turrell’s ‘light rooms’. The tank is reached via a spiral staircase from the apartment below.
When a New York City resident wanted to extend his apartment on East 12th Street, he purchased the rights to the water tower on its roof. Messana O’Rorke Architects were charged with transforming it into an ‘urban retreat’: a space for reading, relaxing and listening to music. A vast, cast iron sprinkler tank was cut away from the inside of the terra cotta rotunda, opening up its full volume. Messana O’Rorke also created a skylight in the roof, suspending a disc with a circular hole in it just below in order to diffuse daylight into the space in a manner akin to one of James Turrell’s ‘light rooms’. The tank is reached via a spiral staircase from the apartment below.
When a New York City resident wanted to extend his apartment on East 12th Street, he purchased the rights to the water tower on its roof. Messana O’Rorke Architects were charged with transforming it into an ‘urban retreat’: a space for reading, relaxing and listening to music. A vast, cast iron sprinkler tank was cut away from the inside of the terra cotta rotunda, opening up its full volume. Messana O’Rorke also created a skylight in the roof, suspending a disc with a circular hole in it just below in order to diffuse daylight into the space in a manner akin to one of James Turrell’s ‘light rooms’. The tank is reached via a spiral staircase from the apartment below.
When a New York City resident wanted to extend his apartment on East 12th Street, he purchased the rights to the water tower on its roof. Messana O’Rorke Architects were charged with transforming it into an ‘urban retreat’: a space for reading, relaxing and listening to music. A vast, cast iron sprinkler tank was cut away from the inside of the terra cotta rotunda, opening up its full volume. Messana O’Rorke also created a skylight in the roof, suspending a disc with a circular hole in it just below in order to diffuse daylight into the space in a manner akin to one of James Turrell’s ‘light rooms’. The tank is reached via a spiral staircase from the apartment below.
