Germany

Life Hamburg

LIFE HAMBURG is a forward-looking educational and community campus currently under construction in Hamburg-Bramfeld. Spread across 15,000 m², the complex consists of five organically shaped buildings designed by Behnisch Architekten, all connected via a central agora. The campus promotes intergenerational learning, holistic wellbeing, and long-term sustainable development.

WIEHAG is acting as partial general contractor for timber construction, reinforced concrete, steelwork, curtain walls and roofing systems. From design stage 2 onward, WIEHAG is involved in structural design, working and detail planning. The structural system is based on a timber skeleton frame with stiffening provided by CLT floor slabs and timber wall panels, modelled and calculated as a 3D spatial system.

Sustainability

Built for the Future

Sustainability is a central pillar of the LIFE HAMBURG concept. The buildings are designed to meet German Effizienzhaus 40 standards and rely on timber sourced from certified forestry in Bavaria and Austria. Renewable energy systems such as photovoltaics and geothermal solutions complement the material strategy.

Extensive green roofs help regulate the microclimate, reduce runoff, and enhance biodiversity. The extensive use of timber reduces the project's carbon footprint and highlights the commitment to environmentally responsible construction.

Task

Structural Complexity and Fire Safety

The project presents a high degree of geometric and technical complexity. The folded roof geometry over the agora requires precise detailing at ridges, valleys and edges. WIEHAG also engineered star-shaped steel connection nodes at key intersections of the roof system.

Additional challenges include fire-rated escape balconies in steel, calculated using temperature curves from external fire exposure – eliminating the need for fireproof coatings. Non-load-bearing exterior walls and timber panel façades are produced in prefabricated timber-frame construction, and EI60-rated wall assemblies meet stringent fire resistance requirements across the building zones.

Implementation

Integrated Design and Precision Delivery

WIEHAG Timber Construction executes the LIFE HAMBURG project with an integrated design-build approach, beginning at design phase 2. Structural modelling and coordination are based on a complete 3D model, enabling precise calculations and seamless collaboration across disciplines.

Timber elements are produced at WIEHAG’s own manufacturing facilities, ensuring consistent quality and precise tolerances. On-site installation is carried out by experienced assembly teams familiar with the unique architectural and technical requirements of the project.

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Project Profile

Client: LIFE Hamburg Projektgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG
Architecture: Behnisch Architekten, Stuttgart
Total floor area: 15,000 m²
WIEHAG scope of work: Partial general contractor for timber and concrete construction, including structural design from phase 2, workshop planning, production and assembly
Glulam volume (BSH): 1,350 m³
Construction start: 2024
Completion: 2026 (planned)