GRSM_VIEW_TOWERS

Within the compass of this heading is included a wide range of structures, the common denominator of all being the provision of means for negotiating a view. Lookouts may eventuate from the practical requirement of forest fire detection, or from determination on the part of designing technician or willful band of park users, hyper-view conscious, for something bigger and better and more distant in views than Nature unaided could achieve. Between the grimly functional lookout of the ranger and the utmost in aesthetic structural elevation contrived by the view-for-view's-sakers is greater distance than any park vista will ever provide. When it has been essayed to superimpose the too conscious aspirations of the aesthetic, on the structurally sufficient skeleton of the fire detection tower, the literally "crowning" error in park development has been committed. Probably a frank rendering of either extreme, free of gesture toward the other, is better than any hybrid produced by crossing the two irreconcilables. Examination of existing timber-framed trestle-type lookout towers for aesthetic values will prove disheartening. In general, the oil derrick as their inspirational source is painfully undisguised. This conclusion cannot be held in disparagement of the designers, if it be honestly admitted that they have valiantly sought to solve the unsolvable. The corresponding Integration of Resource Management Applications (IRMA) NPS Data Store reference is Great Smoky Mountains National Park Observation Towers.

本条目涵盖各类观景构筑物，其核心共性为提供可供眺望景观的设施。瞭望设施的成因，既可源于森林防火的实际需求，也可能出自设计技师的匠心追求，或是一群极度关注观景体验的公园游客的诉求——他们渴望获得比天然视野更为开阔、优质且辽远的观景体验。从护林员所用的极致实用型瞭望设施，到纯粹为观景而打造的极致美学观景构筑物，二者之间的差距，远超任何一处公园景观本身所能展现的视野跨度。若试图将过度刻意的美学诉求，强加于专为森林防火设计的功能性结构骨架之上，便会犯下公园开发中堪称"头号"的致命错误。相较于将这两种不可调和的理念强行糅合出的折中产物，纯粹展现其中任一极端风格、不刻意迎合另一方的设计，或许更为可取。对现存木结构栈架式瞭望塔的美学价值进行评估，结果往往令人失望。总体而言，这类塔楼的设计灵感明显源自石油钻井架，这种溯源毫无掩饰，甚至略显突兀尴尬。若能坦诚认可设计者曾竭力尝试攻克这一无解难题，那么这一结论便不应被视作对设计师的贬损。对应资源管理应用集成（Integration of Resource Management Applications, IRMA）的美国国家公园管理局（National Park Service, NPS）数据存储参考条目为大烟山国家公园瞭望塔。