herrmann+bosch sets standards in terms of sustainable architecture with new timber car park
With its impressive timber construction, the new Wendlingen multi-storey car park, designed by Stuttgart-based architects herrmann+bosch, sets standards in terms of sustainable architecture. With a height of around 18 meters, it offers space for almost 350 cars and 150 bicycles across five levels. In addition, there are 20 charging stations for electric cars and 10 for e-bikes. The roofing ceremony was held in the fall of 2023 and the car park opened in late 2024.
The parking garage is located on an important pedestrian axis between the planned OTTO Quartier, which is being created on the grounds of the former Heinrich Otto & Söhne weaving mill, and in close proximity to the train station. On the recommendation of the international Board of Trustees, the Supervisory Board of Internationale Bauausstellung 2027 StadtRegion Stuttgart GmbH (IBA’27) decided to include the project as an official IBA’27 project as the building sets new standards in sustainable construction.
A high standard of design, user-friendliness and sustainability go hand in hand in this project. The car park plays an important role in traffic management for the city of Wendlingen. On the one hand, it replaces the previous parking spaces. On the other hand, it promotes environmentally friendly mobility through its convenient location next to the train station, with numerous e-charging stations as well as secure storage for 200 bicycles. Thanks to its Park+Ride function, the parking garage helps reduces traffic congestion for the entire Stuttgart region.
The parking garage is particularly striking due to its unusual oval shape, designed in consideration of the limited land available and the need to be efficient with the space available. Apart from the stairwells and the road surface, the garage is made entirely from timber. This saves a lot of carbon and even acts as a carbon store. The decision to use screw connections and not to use composites also means that the construction can be easily dismantled and the materials reused.
The sustainable wooden construction is definitely eye-catching. Instead of the usual steel or concrete construction, herrmann+bosch have opted for a build predominantly made using cross-laminated timber ceilings and glued-laminated timber supports. Only the two staircases are made of concrete, primarily for fire protection reasons. In addition, the ceilings are covered with a long-lasting Mastic asphalt.
Aiming to make the building sustainable and have as long a useful life as possible, the architects and the municipal authorities have already prepared for a future with fewer cars. As such, the generously sized parking decks have been designed to a height that is suitable for repurposing as a residential or work space.
The central ramp unit can also be removed from above, storey by storey, to give way instead to a courtyard that introduces light into the interior. Moreover, the distinctive timber beam structure, natural materials and greened façade all create lasting quality – for future living in a space that was once a multi-storey car park.
The construction of the parking garage is easy because all wooden components are prefabricated and then brought to the construction site and assembled using simple plug-in systems. This leads to shorter construction times and higher cost-effectiveness. In addition, thanks to the lightweight construction and the minimal use of steel and concrete, there is greater savings of CO2.
