Events of the Forum Architecture

With the "Woodscraper" project, two pioneering 12-storey timber hybrid high-rises are currently being built in Wolfsburg's Hellwinkel Terrassen. As the client, the social-ecological GLS Bank has two other initiators at its side: the Berlin-based Krebs Group as project developer and the Berlin-based firm Partner und Partner Architekten. On Tuesday, March 3, the Forum Architektur der Stadt Wolfsburg invites you to a lecture evening with Jeroun Meißner, project manager for the "Woodscraper" at Partner und Partner, who will provide insights into the special concept and the extensive development process.

What is special about the Wolfsburg timber high-rises is the consistently circular approach. From the very beginning, the reusability and recycling of components and building materials was taken into account. This makes the buildings the first residential high-rises of their kind in Germany.

In terms of construction, the Woodscrapers rely on a differentiated timber hybrid system: prefabricated timber modules are used as exterior wall elements, while CO₂-reduced concrete and recycled concrete are used in the cores of the underground garages, stairwells and corridors. All components were comprehensively eco-balanced. The sustainability concept is complemented by a drainage system that makes any water that accumulates usable for the management of the outdoor facilities. The timber constructions also contribute naturally to regulating the temperature, humidity and oxygen content of the indoor air.

A total of around 8,000 square meters of living space will be created with 106 residential units, most of which are barrier-free and 45 percent of which are socially subsidized. A café on the first floor, a communal roof terrace and outdoor areas for communal use are also planned.

The origins of the project are closely linked to the development of Wolfsburg's Hellwinkel Terrassen. Back in 2012, the city formulated guidelines that call for the implementation of innovative and sustainable projects that go beyond the standard, including on building plots intended for high-rise buildings. In 2015, Partner und Partner applied with the Woodscraper concept, for which the city reserved two building plots in the first construction phase. "The project's comprehensive sustainability claim reflects the mission statement we have set ourselves for the Hellwinkel Terrassen district. That's why it was important for us to make use of our options in the context of the land allocation and to stick with the project during the development phase, which will last several years," explains Kai-Uwe Hirschheide, First City Councillor and City Planning Councillor of the City of Wolfsburg. This was followed by an intensive development process that was not just about technical feasibility: As part of a research project, funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation, the economic and social viability of the concept was also demonstrated, including key issues of approvability. In 2021, the Woodscraper concept was awarded the German Sustainability Award. The ground-breaking ceremony took place in the fall of 2024 and completion is planned for 2027.