Wälderhaus, Museum and building in Wilhelmsburg, Hamburg, Germany

Wälderhaus is a multi-purpose building on Wilhelmsburg island, designed by Andreas Heller and opened in November 2012. Its ground floor and first floor are concrete, while the three hotel floors above are load-bearing solid spruce timber. Inside, a 650 m² Science Center Wald holds 80 stations, 32 tree trunks and 40 preserved animals.

The Hamburg branch of the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald first proposed a forest and sustainability building in the 1990s; a planned site in the Niendorfer Gehege was blocked by a citizens' initiative. The present building was realised for the Internationale Bauausstellung and Internationale Gartenschau 2013 on Wilhelmsburg, designed by Andreas Heller, built for 17 million euros and opened in November 2012.

The Wälderhaus is run by the Hamburg branch of the Schutzgemeinschaft Deutscher Wald and has been directed since its creation by Rüdiger Kruse, a Hamburg member of the Bundestag. Its Science Center Wald holds 80 stations, 32 tree trunks and 40 preserved animals. Programmes in environmental training in Wilhelmsburg also address the integration of vulnerable groups.

The building is easy to reach by public transit and visitors can explore both the science center and hotel areas on foot. There is plenty of space for different activities, and the interior is accessible for people with mobility needs.

The building was one of the first in Germany to use solid timber as its main structural material on this scale, setting new standards in construction. This approach shows how modern design and sustainable materials can work together.