Wilhelma Elephant World

Stuttgart
Wilhelma Elephant World

structural engineering, facade design  Services

herrmann+bosch architekten, MKK-Architekten   Architect

Future-oriented elephant world with a glazed timber grid shell

Project

The Stuttgart Zoo "Wilhelma" aims to set new standards in elephant care with its new elephant world. The planned facility, including a large outdoor area, will provide space for a herd of up to 14 Asian elephants. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe the animals from various perspectives in a naturalistic environment designed to resemble their Asian habitat. The centerpiece of the spacious elephant house will be a free-standing glazed wooden lattice shell.

Solid construction with resource-efficient 4-layer grid shell construction made of wood

STRUCTURAL DESIGN
The elephant house consists of a 63.5 × 46 m dome-shaped lattice shell made of glulam beams and a partially two-story solid structure with a basement in reinforced concrete construction. The orthotropic timber roof is composed of main arches with separate upper and lower chords, as well as two diagonal layers that stabilize the structure and contribute to load transfer. The glazed lattice shell is supported by a reinforced concrete ring beam. The structural behavior of the load-bearing structures was investigated using a global FE model with sofistics. The global model, consisting of timber construction and solid construction, was used to calculate the horizontal and vertical load transfer of the solid construction. The timber roof was analyzed using a global FE model consisting of the detailed roof structure and the underlying simplified concrete structure. 2D models are available for the design of the ceilings.

The delicate building envelope combines light transmission with energy efficiency

FACADE DESIGN
The façade of the grid shell consists of a glazed aluminum mullion-transom system, creating a delicate and light-permeable enclosure. The façade beams follow the guide curves of the underlying translational surface, allowing the use of planar, faceted glazing units. Triple-insulated glazing with low-emissivity coatings, UV-transmitting PVB interlayers, and satin-finished glass ensures an optimal balance of light transmission, energy efficiency, glare control, and bird protection. The entire structure is elevated, allowing air circulation around the underlying timber framework, thereby ensuring its long-term preservation.

Parametric modelling enabled the iterative optimization of the roof structure in an interdisciplinary planning process

PARAMETRIC APPROACH
The roof structure was defined thanks to highly parametric modeling using Rhino and Grasshopper as a geometric platform in an interdisciplinary planning process. Both visual scripting and programming were used to generate the geometry and the various loads and to utilize the results in an efficient manner. The result of the grid geometry resulted from the holistic consideration and balancing of a large number of planning parameters, such as architectural design, timber construction limits, assembly, load-bearing behavior, type and complexity of the roof covering, connection to the vertical façades, serviceability, construction costs, execution dates, etc. The development of the variants was an iterative planning process in which the parameters described were coordinated, checked and fed back to each other in a large number of iterations.

Project data

Client Vermögen und Bau Baden-Württemberg

Architect herrmann+bosch architekten, MKK-Architekten

Finalization 2027

Project data Gross floor area 7.101 m²
Usable area 5000 m²
Gross cubic capacity 60.790 m³

Services structural engineering, facade design