18.10.2024
Project

Tower Landesgartenschau Wangen

Autorbild
Building Design
Embedded in the impressive landscape of the West Allgäu, the Wangen Tower is an architectural landmark and a pioneering timber construction for the 2024 State Garden Show. Photo: Roland Halbe

Nestled in the impressive landscape of the West Allgäu, the Wangen Tower is an architectural landmark and a pioneering timber construction for the 2024 State Garden Show. Photo: Roland Halbe

The 23-metre-high observation tower on the grounds of the 2024 State Garden Show in Wangen im Allgäu is an architectural highlight and landmark that was designed and built by the University of Stuttgart.

The Institute for Computer-Based Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart is known for innovative buildings that use state-of-the-art digital planning and production technologies. The tower is an impressive example of innovative architecture created using computer-based design methods.

Unique architecture and material innovation

The observation tower consists of twelve load-bearing, curved cross-laminated timber segments, which together form a surface-active timber structure. This construction not only makes it possible to effectively bear the horizontal wind loads, but also gives the tower additional stability. Inside the tower, a centrally positioned staircase spindle ensures that the vertical traffic loads are safely absorbed.

Particularly impressive is the use of local spruce wood, which is automatically formed into the desired shape through moisture-induced shrinkage. Inspired by natural biological models, this shrinkage of the wood is not seen as a disadvantage, but is used specifically as a design tool. During the controlled drying process, the moisture content of the wood decreases, resulting in the specified target curvature and giving the tower its characteristic shape.

The delivery of the components. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
The delivery of the components. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
The production of the individual wooden elements. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
A bird's eye view of the tower. Photo: Nina Baisch
The viewing platform from above. Photo: Nina Baisch
Climbing the 113 steps to the viewing platform. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Climbing the 113 steps to the viewing platform. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
The tower entrances from the wooden surfaces open elegantly on three sides, revealing an inviting space that faces the River Argen and the gently rounded tip of the neighboring Drumlin. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart

Precise production thanks to digital technology

The cross-laminated timber (CLT) used was manufactured using a special process consisting of double-layer panels. These boards consist of a 30 millimeter thick “active” layer and a cross-laminated, ten millimeter thin “restrictive” layer. The “active” layer, which has a higher moisture content, is glued to the “restrictive” layer in a flat vacuum press. After this lamination process, the flat panels undergo a precisely controlled drying process in which the “active” layer shrinks perpendicular to the fiber direction so that the panels bend themselves into the calculated shape. Finally, three of these curved double-layer panels are overlapped and bonded with an elastic barrier layer to produce stable, dimensionally stable and precisely curved CLT blanks.

Structure of the wooden elements. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Structure of the wooden elements. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Exploded view. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Exploded view. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Sectional view of the tower. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart
Sectional view of the tower. ©ICD/ITKE/IntCDC University of Stuttgart

Fast assembly on site

Thanks to the use of state-of-the-art CNC milling technology, the digital model of the tower could be transferred directly to the wooden components. This optimized both the statics and production, while at the same time significantly reducing material waste. The twelve main components and the 168 larch wood panels for the façade were pre-assembled on site, allowing the tower to be fully assembled in just three days.

The team behind the project

This innovative construction project was realized by a team from the Cluster of Excellence “Integrative Computer-based Design and Construction for Architecture” (IntCDC) at the University of Stuttgart. The team consists of experts who are characterized by their interdisciplinary cooperation and in-depth knowledge in the fields of architecture, engineering and digital manufacturing.

The Institute for Computer-Based Design and Construction (ICD):
Prof. Achim Menges
Martin Alvarez, Monika Göbel, Laura Kiesewetter, David Stieler, Dr. Dylan Wood
with the support of: Gonzalo Muñoz Guerrero, Alina Turean, Aaron Wagner

Institute of Structural Engineering and Structural Design (ITKE):
Prof. Jan Knippers
Gregor Neubauer

Blumer-Lehmann AG:
Katharina Lehmann, David Riggenbach, Jan Gantenbein
with Biedenkapp Stahlbau GmbH
Markus Reischmann, Frank Jahr

City of Wangen im Allgäu:
State Garden Show Wangen im Allgäu 2024

Other project participants:

Scientific cooperation:
Professorship for Forest Utilization Prof. Dr. Markus Rüggeberg, TU Dresden

Other consulting engineers:
wbm Consulting Engineers
Dipl.-Ing. Dietmar Weber, Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Daniel Boneberg

Collins+Knieps surveying engineers:
Frank Collins

Schöne Neue Welt Ingenieure GbR:
Florian Scheible, Andreas Otto

lohrer.hochrein Landscape architects DBLA

Building permit:
Test engineer: Prof. Hans Joachim Blaß, Karlsruhe
Experts: MPA Stuttgart, Dr. Gerhard Dill Langer, Prof. Dr. Philipp Grönquist

Cooperation for foundation:
Fischbach construction company

Project funding:

DFG German Research Foundation

Zukunft Bau – Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building / BBSR

Discover the observation tower at the 2024 State Garden Show in Wangen im Allgäu and experience for yourself the extraordinary architecture and advanced technologies that make this building a masterpiece.

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