Architects and Designers: Wulf architekten
Location: Reutlingen, Germany
Year: 2025
Concept: Timber truss structure, historic reconstruction, complex timber geometry
Photos by Brigida González
The Museum Historische Oberamteistraße by wulf architekten combines the restoration of one of southern Germany’s oldest half-timbered building ensembles with a new timber structure that completes the missing corner of the historic row. Rather than recreating the lost building in a traditional way, the project uses a contemporary timber framework to reconstruct its former volume while supporting the neighbouring historic houses.
The new building is formed by a highly complex wooden truss structure made from local silver fir, which remains visible from the interior and gives the museum its unique character. Behind the translucent façade of cast-glass roof tiles, the timber structure becomes partially visible depending on the changing light conditions, creating a constantly changing relationship between structure and enclosure.
What makes the project particularly interesting is the way traditional timber construction is combined with contemporary design and digital planning methods. The layered timber frame follows a clear structural logic, with overlapping diagonal and horizontal members creating both the form of the building and the support for the façade. The result is a building that does not simply imitate the past, but uses timber to create a connection between historic construction techniques and new possibilities in wood architecture.
See more on the [wulf architekten] website: Historical Oberamteistraße Museum