Airship Hangar Mülheim

The contemporary interpretation of this building type features a fully recyclable aluminum facade. The fine vertical lines of the standing seam accentuate the building’s shape, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. A broad strip of windows introduces transparency and expansive views, while the unexpectedly warm and inviting wooden interior contrasts with the cool exterior. Function and aesthetics merge in a sculptural, almost abstract composition. The fully enclosed east side comes to life as the gates open, providing a dramatic frame for the airship’s arrival or departure.

The building’s dimensions posed a major challenge, and the formal design of the massive door opening, along with the development of a precisely operating door mechanism, presented a unique and demanding task for all involved. As an event venue, special requirements for fire safety, acoustics, and thermal insulation also had to be met. Sustainability goals were defined from the outset, requiring the use of renewable and fully recyclable materials to achieve DGNB Gold certification, Germany’s leading label for building sustainability. Meeting all of these requirements demanded careful planning and material selection. Many members of the large, interdisciplinary team already brought a strong enthusiasm for timber construction and aimed to explore the material’s full potential. Accordingly, timber was chosen as the primary material for the supporting structure and connections. To convey a sense of lightness, the timber frames were resolved, creating a fine, graphic play of light and shadow.

Measuring 90 × 42 meters, the hangar’s size is comparable to a football field, with its highest point reaching 26 meters. The two massive door leaves each measure 400 m² and open by gliding along a quarter-circle track, powered by four electric motors. The primary structure consists of 15 curved two-hinged frames arranged as a resolved timber-frame construction. The truss girders were realized entirely with timber connections at a total of 592 joints, using laminated veneer lumber plates joined with hardwood dowels. The overlying roof-supporting shell, made of large-format 10 cm-thick cross-laminated timber panels, provides both structural reinforcement and thermal and acoustic insulation. All materials are fully separable by type, fulfilling the cradle-to-cradle principle. The original foundations were crushed and recycled on-site to form the base for the new hangar floor, while the new visible floor slab is made from recycled concrete panels sourced from a nearby construction site.