Modular timber

Currently the world's largest residential building in modular timber construction “Woodie” offers micro-appartments for 371 students. The building is part of a new residential district in the Wilhelmsburg area of Hamburg, which builds on the experimental character of the 2013 International Building Exhibition and embodies the principles of Universal Design: sustainable, simple and inclusive.   Alternating bays and projections articulate this long building so that it fits in with the smaller scale of its surroundings. Its form also continues the rhythm of the neighbouring State Ministry of Urban Development and Housing along a busy route for cyclists and pedestrians.   The purpose and the functional layout of the st... More

Our circular modular timber school Het Epos in Rotterdam is complete and fully operational. Both staff and pupils are very happy with the fresh yet cozy building and are making excellent use of the different spaces.   Het Epos primary school is an initiative of The Verre Bergen Foundation. This foundation aims to give back to the city of Rotterdam by setting up a new school in Zuidwijk, an area in the southern part of the city which is socioeconomically disadvantaged. In this innovative primary school teachers are given more allocated teaching time with students than the Dutch average, so they can better support the individual needs of the students.   SeARCH, together with builder De Groot Vroomshoop, has developed a new way o... More

BremenLike many German cities, Bremen is confronted with an increasing housing shortage and a growing demand for affordable housing.In response to this, the largest Bremen Housing Association, GEWOBA, has prudently taken on a supplementary extension to their existing 45,000 plus housing stock. In 2011, within the framework of the competition “ungewöhnlich Wohnen” (unusual living), five exemplary lots from a postwar housing area were chosen to investigate the adaptability of the area. The proposals considered contemporary demands for affordable and flexible housing that could offer manifold inhabitant configurations. These housing areas in the Gartendstadt Süd of Neustadt Bremen, offer generous green open areas formed b... More

This unobtrusive modular timber structure is the first of three new buildings planned for the Wagerenhof Foundation in Uster. It accommodates a crèche, where inclusivity, tolerance and instilling self-confidence are paramount. Differentiated interior and outdoor spaces create a reassuring and stimulating atmosphere for children with or without impairments from the age of three months until they start nursery school. Dominique Wehrli PART OF THE WAGERENHOFThe foundation offers people with cognitive impairments a place to live in, which can be adapted to many different needs. The establishment, which has grown and developed over the decades, now has the character of a village. The crèche stands on the southern part of the... More

The “treehugger”-pavilion was constructed for and exhibited at the National Garden Show (“BuGa”) in Koblenz, Germany, in summer 2011.It resulted from a research-project on digital design and construction methods that was initiated by Dipl.-Des. Christoph Krause, director of the Chamber of Skilled Craft’s “Center for Design, Manufacturing and Communication” in Koblenz in 2009 to educate students and craftsmen in a kind of digital mason’s lodge scenario. The design has been developed by students of the University of Applied Sciences in Trier, Germany, led by Prof. Holger Hoffmann and his Düsseldorf based office One Fine Day. Frankfurt based Office for Structural Design has been responsible for the structural engineering of the project. OCHS H... More

Little Red Ants is a creative studio known for churning out compelling videos for a multitude of clients. The nature of their work means they work round the clock, and their new office at CT Hub 2 at Lavender Street needs to be a sanctuary for eat, sleep and play, in addition to work. The brief also called for a space that promotes communication as every project demands contributions from numerous staff members. As everyone has their little role and contribution to the big picture, they should have their own little space in this 'ants’ nest’. It is all about working cohesively as a single body and creating a sense of bonding and belonging. To some extent it is antihot- desking. The result is an open-plan office space occupied by a single pi... More

R50 – cohousing is a joint building venture project in Berlin-Kreuzberg. It was initiated by the architects during the course of a concept-based award procedure for building plots and implemented in close cooperation with the clients. The building proposal is founded on a clear urban design position, robust and precisely detailed architectural design, and both a collective and individual process of occupancy. The detached building is surrounded by various housing concepts characteristic of Berlin’s post-war period. It has six full storeys, a basement and an attic. It comprises three blocks with 19 individual apartments, one studio and various shared spaces. Underneath is a double-height, flexible community space which connects the buildi... More

This house is part of a family compound, and expresses the owner's close relationship with her grandfather who has his own house within the compound. The design reflects the close bond between the grandfather and granddaughter by orientating the main spaces towards his house and gardens. The living spaces on the ground floor open up to the sprawling gardens, while the elevated private rooms of the owner and her children are sheltered by a gentle curved screen. The shared gardens are akin to a forest with the rooms like bird nests perched amongst the trees. The expression of house refers to bark, branches and twigs. These components achieve a delicate complexity. The rooms are wrapped with a curved textured screen in a timber and al... More