The student construction project is multifaceted, but based on an ordinary concept, that of a wooden pavilion. To formulate the task, Stefan Krötsch, a junior professor of tectonics in timber construction, and Tatjana Dürr, a lecturer on building culture, consulted with refugees living at the “needs-oriented preliminary reception facility” (BEA), which was established by the state of Baden-Württemberg in 2015 at the former Spinelli U.S. Army barracks. The refugees expressed their wishes for a both communal area and a place of retreat. Additionally, the construction would have to be quick and easy, as it would be built together with its users and local craftsmen. Of the 15 student proposals submitted, a jury chose a design by Sandra Gressung, Sascha Ritschel, and Tobias Vogel. Together, the students handled all of the planning phases and visualizations, and lived in the BEA during the construction phase.
The 500 m² building ensemble includes two courtyards. One is u-shaped and can accommodate events with up to 200 people. The second is enclosed with covered seating niches and a cherry tree. A succession of smoothly interconnecting spaces provides opportunities for various kinds of use. A great deal of thought was given to the design of the rather complex construction. The northern wall, 22 m long, forms the structural backbone, whereby the bulkheads, cantilevers, and firmly bolted cross-laminated timber roof panels work together to bear the load. The semipermeable lattice walls and trusses are made from five layers of Douglas fir battens (3 × 5 cm) to compensate for the wood’s low transverse tensile strength. Filigree latticework was also applied to the girder truss. Together with the varied play of sunlight, the lattice walls and trusses give the structure an ornamental, Oriental appearance. This ornamentation, which is understood as an inviting gesture, is not imposed, but results from the construction itself. An award recognized the participants for their engagement beyond the scope of their studies. The valuable experiences that the students gained through the project likewise went far beyond the scope of their studies.
