Forest Pavilion

Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

1 | Der Pavillon bei Nacht

The highly efficient, sea urchin-like structure made of wood was made possible by integrating computer-aided design and manufacturing processes.

Design: The pavilion served as an exhibition space at the Landesgartenschau 2014 in Schwäbisch Gmünd, which has around 1.5 million visitors. Since then, it has been used as a "green classroom". The pavilion is modelled on the shape of a sea urchin, which, with its specific arrangement of panels, forms a particularly stable and efficient structure.

Wood: The Pavilion is the first building whose beech panel structure has been completely robotically engineered, with support from the European Union and the State of Baden-Württemberg. The new method of construction with wooden panels allows for innovative architecture and at the same time an efficient, economical frame with a material thickness of only 50 mm. Only 12 m³ of wood was needed, and almost all of it was used up, as the leftovers were processed to produce beech parquet.

Technique: Robotic manufacturing has enabled the production of 243 different panels; including cutting the insulation, the water-bearing layer and the top layer. The biggest challenge was the production of 7 600 geometrically different toothed joints.

2 | Innenraum

3 | Herstellung der Platten (5-Achs CNC)

4 | Verbinden der Platten

5 | Errichtung des Pavillon mit Lehrgerüst

Basic information

Year of Completion | 2014

Investor | Landesgartenschau Schwäbisch Gmünd 2014 GmbH (DE)

Architecture | Prof. Achim Menges, Universität Stuttgart (DE)

Structural Engineering | Prof. Jan Knippers, Universität Stuttgart (DE)

Construction Time | 2 months

Number of floors | 1

Plot size | 723 m²

Gross floor area | 139 m²

Construction Costs (netto) | 1 900 EUR/m²

Awards | German Design Award Special 2016; Wilhelm-Klauditz-Preis 2015; Holzbaupreis 2015 Baden-Württemberg; Beispielhaftes Bauen Ostalbkreis 2009-2014; RobArch Pioneering Research Award 2014

Technical aspects

Concept | Wood segmental sheathing: beech veneer (50mm); thermal insulation: wood fibre panels of fir and spruce; roof panels: three-layer larch panels

Woodworking | müllerblaustein Holzbau GmbH, Blaustein (DE)

Origin of Timber, Certification | PEFC/FSC-certified wood; Roof panels: Alpine region (DE); Load-bearing layer: Europe

Traceability of Timber | Participating companies are listed

Forestry Value Chain | Implementation by local companies (100 km surrounding area)

Energy Systems | Seasonal use, i.e. no active heating and cooling

U-Value Wall | Roof | Floor | Windows (W/(m²K)) | 0.8 (thermal insulation)