Holzer Kobler explores the many possibilities of the architectural grid in Erlebnis Hus

Designers have often grappled with the architectural grid, the matrix that guides all spacemaking efforts and hence experiential qualities of a design. Often, the simple system of representation is how young students of architecture are taught to arrange spaces in their own work. Most times, the simpler it is, the more unimaginative it can seem. A regular wooden grid dictates the design and overall plan of Erlebnis-Hus, a tourist centre in the seaside province of St. Peter-Ording in Germany. Designed by Holzer Kobler, an architecture practice with offices in Zurich, Berlin, Cologne, and Nyon, the design takes visual cues from local pile construction techniques.

Here, the decision to expose the grid not only creates a formal language for the design but allows it to take on a sense of endless possibility. A snakelike slide, swings and a miniature skating set up surround the main building, making it seem almost like oversized playground equipment. The project itself is part of a landscape development that the designers had conceived for a competition in collaboration with the landscape architect Uniola. The wooden structure that frames the building is made up of regularly sized supports and beams of cross-laminated timber, sitting on small concrete posts, with amenities that add to the social fabric of the region.

The province of Sankt Peter-Ording is a popular seaside destination in Germany and the only region that boasts a sulphur spring in the country. With a large number of tourists frequenting the area for weekend getaways, the need for amenities that entertain the visitors was as vital as accommodation. Hence, as the architects state, the aim was to “serve visitors of all ages and backgrounds as an inclusive meeting point, deeply rooted at a local level in both form and function, while radiating a strong regional identity.” The concept of regional identity, which comes through in a structural language with the timber architecture rather than an aesthetic or ornamental one makes the design for the community centre feel refreshing.

To house indoor activities, five cubes with a wooden façade were inserted at various heights and positions in the grid by the designers. Each of the five cubes of the structure serves a distinct purpose: they house an analogue game venue, an information centre and shop, a restaurant, a staff office and sanitary facilities. Closed on three sides, the cubes open out to expansive views of the seashore, the promenade and the undulating grassland beyond the building’s site.

The architects further state that local and resource-efficient building materials were used for the project which along with its minimal design give it a contemporary look while satisfying the criteria for sustainability. The material palette used in the façade design is mirrored in the interiors, where the same light timber material language and slender columns and beams govern the spaces. The exposed structure which makes the exterior feel expansive, like a giant sculpture, forgotten by the receding sea, here feels commonplace.

While the interiors are restrained, it’s the terraces that afford the best views of the natural landscape, with the mild weather of the region meaning that these can be used by visitors year-round. Moreover, the presence of extensive terraces with staircase designs in many configurations means the building is accessible in different ways and levels from the outdoors, enhancing the sense of play. A reinforced concrete core with an elevator ensures that the building is universally accessible.

Talking about the project’s brief, the designers mention, “The task was to find a sustainable, ecological and innovative solution, contributing to the attractiveness of the location, both from a tourism and societal perspective.” While the use and reference to local materials and buildings add to the sustainable aspects of the design, it is the grid that makes the project novel. The simple gesture offers suggestions for use as imaginative as they are surprising and interchangeable. It becomes a space where families can unwind, a children’s playscape that allows the freedom to engage with the building and its context.

Project Details

Name: Erlebnis-Hus
Location: St. Peter-Ording
Year of completion: 2023
Design team: Andrea Zickhardt, Max Kaske, Philip Peterson Mitarbeitende: Ingo Böhler, Heike Zeschke, Sebastian Hübsch, Julia Kull
Consultants:
Construction Management: ASSMANN BERATEN + PLANEN
Landscape Architecture: Uniola
Lighting Design: Lichtvision Design
Structural Engineering: ifb frohloff staffa kühl ecker
Fire Protection: brandschutz plus
Technical Building Systems: Ingenieurbüro Pahl und Jacobsen Technische
Timber Construction: Terhalle Holzbau
Shell Construction: HC HAGEMANN GmbH & Co.
Facade and Drywall: Heinrich Kersten Baugesellschaft
Roofing: S.C.H.I.N.D.L.E.R. Haus- und Dachpflege GmbH & Co.
Metal / Steel Construction: H. O. Schlüter