Two key design elements define the form of the "Naturerlebniszentrum Stausee": with its unfolding shape and terraced entrance, it faces the shores of the reservoir, while also opening up toward the street and the town entrance. The resulting roof shape gives the building a distinctive identity and serves as a landmark.
The building’s design evokes numerous associations with nature and the bird world without directly imitating them: Like a nest, the house offers space for initial encounters within the shelter of the green belt; the folds of the roof are reminiscent of wings; and a finely lined wooden façade envelops the building like a plumage. Generous openings on the north and south façades create shop-window-like entrances and views of nature. It is only from the roof terrace that the view of the reservoir and its aquatic life is revealed.
The main structural framework consists of a timber skeleton structure. The distinctive folded roof, made of glued-laminated timber beams, is dictated by structural necessity, while the wall elements, as traditional timber-frame constructions, establish a connection to the region. In the outdoor space, playfully arranged stones, grasses, and wild perennials evoke the natural elements along the crane migration route—from Scandinavian granites to grasses of the Iberian Peninsula. A reversible heat pump with geothermal probes, photovoltaics, and natural ventilation via skylights ensure sustainable operation.
