17.2.2020, Kaiserslautern: In the winter semester of 2020, DTC students developed innovative concepts for small shelter huts in the palatinate forest, in close collaboration with the state department of forestry Landesforsten Rheinland-Pfalz and their sustainability infocenter “Haus der Nachhaltigkeit” in Johanniskreuz. A big thanks for their great support throughout the semester.
Download: PDF Booklet published by HdN Johanniskreuz and Landesforsten RLP
These “forest cabins” should serve as a showcase of innovative wood architecture, directly in the forest where our wood comes from. Seven locations in the forest were chosen, in all of these places there are currently existing shelters from the 1960s and 1970s, which are in bad condition and need to be replaced.
The small size of the buildings would allow for a realisation without special building permissions. very helpful advice and information was provided by the local forest managers and communities.
The teams developed a wide variety of designs and concepts, building upon ideas such as reciprocal frames, hyperbolic shells, or round wood construction.
A very essential improvement over the existing huts was to bring in more natural light, since the new huts should perform as friendly and inviting spaces which attract visitors, beyond the performance as a shelter for bad weather.
The project was an invitation to think about the possibilities of digital fabrication, but also about biodiversity in our forests and the great variety of local wood species and their particular properties. Technology and creativity are the key to access the full potential of this resources.