BIM in Architecture: Wangen Tower by ICD, ITKE, and IntCDC at University of Stuttgart

The Wangen Tower and Hybrid Flax Pavilion, located in Germany’s Öresund region, were created for the State Horticultural Exhibition in Wangen im Allgäu. These projects represent a collaboration between the ICD and ITKE research institutes at the University of Stuttgart. They emerge from the pioneering research conducted by the “Integrated Computational Design and Construction for Architecture (IntCDC)” excellence cluster, highlighting innovative architectural approaches using biobased materials and biomimetic structures. This work offers a fresh perspective on regenerative and expressive design.

Situated in the scenic landscape of West Algarve, the Wangen Tower stands as the architectural centerpiece and a groundbreaking wooden structure for the 2024 State Horticultural Exhibition. Drawing from the IntCDC Excellence Cluster’s research, this tower is the first multi-story walkable building constructed with self-forming structural wood components.

The tower’s distinctive wooden structure showcases the immense design potential of natural, renewable, locally sourced, and regionally manufactured timber. This resource-efficient approach is realized through a blend of scientific research, material-driven computational design, digital fabrication, and expert craftsmanship.

Project Drawings

△ Site Plan

Top View Plan

△ Plan View

△ Plan View

△ Elevation Drawing

△ Section Diagram

△ CLT Utilization

△ Structural Analysis Diagram

△ Structural Analysis Diagram

Concept Analysis Diagram

Concept Analysis Diagram

△ Analysis Chart

Project Information

Architect: ICD-ITKE IntCDC, University of Stuttgart

Area: 50 m²

Project Year: 2024

Photographers: ICD-ITKE-IntCDC University of Stuttgart, Roland Halbe, Nina Baisch, Christoph Morlok

Manufacturer: Blumer Lehmann

Architecture Team: Prof. Achim Menges, Martin Alvarez, Monika Göbel, Laura Kiesewetter, David Stieler, Dr. Dylan Wood, Prof. Dr. Jan Knippers, Gregor Neubauer

Structural Design Team: Prof. Dr. Jan Knippers, Gregor Neubauer

Wood Processing: Blumer Lehmann AG

Drawing Review Engineer: Prof. Hans Joachim Blaß

Material Certification: MPA Stuttgart

Basic Engineering: wbm Beratende Ingenieure

Curtain Wall Engineering: Schöne Neue Welt Ingenieure GbR

Landscape Design: Lohrer Hochlein

Concrete Foundation: Fischbach Bauunternehmen

Location: Wangen, Aargau region, Germany

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