Events of the Forum Architektur in Wolfsburg

The “Woodscraper” project is currently delivering two pioneering 12-storey timber hybrid high-rises in the Hellwinkel Terrassen district of Wolfsburg. The client, the socio-ecological GLS Bank, is joined by two additional initiators: the Berlin-based development company Krebs UGK and the architectural practice Partner und Partner Architektur, also based in Berlin. On Tuesday, March 3, the Forum Architektur of the City of Wolfsburg invites the public to an evening lecture with Jeroen Meissner, project lead for Woodscraper at Partner und Partner. He will present insights into the project’s distinctive concept and its extensive development process.

What sets the Wolfsburg timber high-rises apart is their consistent circular approach. From the outset, adaptability and the reuse of components and materials were integral to the design. The buildings are therefore considered the first residential high-rises of this kind in Germany.

Structurally, Woodscraper is based on a differentiated timber hybrid system. Prefabricated timber modules are used as exterior wall elements, while the cores of the underground garages, staircases, and corridors are constructed with CO₂-reduced and recycled concrete. All building components have undergone comprehensive life cycle assessment. The sustainability concept is complemented by a drainage system that collects and reuses rainwater for the maintenance of the outdoor areas. The timber structures also contribute naturally to regulating indoor temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels.

In total, approximately 8,000 square metres of residential space are being created, comprising 106 apartments. Most units are designed to be accessible, and 45 percent are publicly subsidised housing. The programme also includes a café on the ground floor, a shared rooftop terrace, and outdoor areas for communal use.

The origins of the project are closely linked to the development of the Hellwinkel Terrassen district. As early as 2012, the City of Wolfsburg defined guidelines for the area, calling for innovative and sustainable projects beyond standard practice, including on plots designated for high-rise buildings. In 2015, Partner und Partner applied with the Woodscraper concept, for which the city reserved two plots in the first development phase. “The project’s comprehensive sustainability ambition reflects the guiding principles we established for the Hellwinkel Terrassen district. It was therefore important for us to use our scope within the land allocation process and to remain committed to the project throughout the multi-year development phase,” explains Kai-Uwe Hirschheide, First City Councillor and Head of Urban Development of the City of Wolfsburg.

An intensive development process followed, addressing not only technical feasibility. Within the framework of a research project funded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU), the economic and social viability of the concept was also demonstrated, including key aspects of regulatory approval. In 2021, the Woodscraper concept received the German Sustainability Award. Groundbreaking took place in autumn 2024, with completion scheduled for 2027.