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The real-world laboratory is part of the research project "Stuttgart 210 - think ahead, build ahead!", which aims to investigate new ways of reusing cross-laminated timber concrete formwork from the construction site of Stuttgart's new main railway station. The aim is to develop resource-saving primary constructions from the upcycled formwork elements and to test these in real construction contexts. The Ingersheim youth centre is the first of several planned real-world laboratories.
Designed by Professor Andreas Kretzer (HFT Stuttgart) and Professor Stefan Krötsch, Roman Kreuzer, Katharina Raabe and Maximilian Stemmler (HTWG Konstanz), the oval building envelope was realised as part of a two-week international design-build workshop with around fifty students and lecturers from HFT Stuttgart and its partner universities in Ahmedabad, Istanbul, Cincinnati and Mendrisio. The students manufactured and assembled the oval shell from spruce boards and mouldings, worked on the surfaces of the reused formwork elements, added fitting pieces and closed up gaps. The result is a characteristic interior that is characterised by the wooden surfaces of the upcycled cross-laminated timber elements.
The workshop was organised by Prof. Andreas Kretzer and Dipl.-Des. Melissa Acker in close cooperation with the municipality of Ingersheim. The project was supported by local craft businesses, the DRK local association, sports clubs, the HFT Stuttgart workshop team, volunteers and numerous partners such as Häfele, Würth, the Knödler-Decker Foundation and the Friends of HFT Stuttgart association. Accommodation and catering for the international students was provided jointly on site.
The "Jugendtreff Ingersheim" real-world laboratory has already been published in numerous publications and won several awards.
Baden-Württemberg Timber Construction Prize 2026: Special prize for research and teaching
The Baden-Württemberg Timber Construction Award honours outstanding projects that exemplify quality, innovation and climate protection in timber construction. It honours buildings, concepts and scientific contributions that combine sustainable construction, building culture and regional value creation.
The jury particularly recognised the experimental and innovative approach of the real-world laboratory and its exemplary contribution to sustainable building culture. The "bold experiment" impressively demonstrates the potential of building on existing buildings and the combination of research, teaching and built practice on a 1:1 scale.
Jury's appraisal:
"Waste? Build with it! In the Stuttgart 210 research project, real laboratories were planned using timber formwork from the Stuttgart 21 railway station. This technically unusual and logistically and legally challenging task was convincingly realised in an international student project in Ingersheim. Highly specific geometric formwork elements were used for the youth centre built there. Through targeted cladding and skilful joining, it was possible to turn their heterogeneity into an advantage. The result is a strong interaction between a calm, clearly defined exterior and a two-dimensional, almost cathedral-like interior. The bold experiment has been a success and impressively demonstrates the potential of continuing to build with existing structures. Thank you for this rebellious and positive contribution!"
Further information:
Baden-Württemberg Timber Construction Prize 2026
Architectural photography: © Achim Birnbaum
Photo of the award ceremony: HTWG Konstanz
