Trublerhütte Schlieren

The Trublerhütte (2007): A CO₂-positive building

In November 2005, the old Trublerhütte was destroyed by fire. Since the base structure remained intact, the decision was made to rebuild the new hut on this foundation. The site is located near the city, on the edge of a recreational zone, in a clearing surrounded by old trees. The combination of proximity to infrastructure and idyllic surroundings makes the hut an ideal place for social occasions. The architectural concept is based on the idea of a “forest space,” which offers every visitor, regardless of use, visual connections to the surrounding nature. The festival room is interior and exterior, a kind of shelter, whose large gates open or close the space as needed.

The roof forms the defining element of the building. It functions as a protective canopy, keeping the floor plan dry in the rain and providing shade on warm days. For this construction, massive wooden beams were used: 400 x 400-millimeter trunks, laid side by side, create a column-free ceiling. The dimensions were derived from the cross-sections of felled trees in the Schlieren forest, which, once cut, precisely yielded these measurements. Spans of up to nine meters are thus achieved. The omission of thermal insulation is compensated by the mass of the wood, which ensures a balanced indoor climate. A minimal roof insulation additionally guarantees a slope and the safe drainage of rainwater. The main room is framed by four closed volumes, while the gates establish the connection to the surroundings.

The hut is realized as a prefabricated timber element construction. The large gates define the appearance and determine the degree of openness. When opened, interior and exterior flow into one another, the forest becomes part of the festival room, and daylight suffices for the use. When closed, the gates provide protection against wind, weather, and vandalism, transforming the hut into a secure, compact volume. The covered exterior areas flexibly extend the interior space, allowing for diverse modes of use.

For the construction, a total of forty fir trees from the Schlieren forest were used. The trunks form the roof structure, respond physically to changes in temperature, and create a pleasant indoor climate through the delayed absorption and release of heat. The natural drying process produces cracks in the wood, which are controlled by predetermined breaking points. The sawn-raw surface of the beams, combined with these cracks, also has a positive effect on the room acoustics.

The material concept follows a raw, honest approach. Different surface qualities of the wood lend the rooms differentiated atmospheres: the ceiling remains saw-raw, the gates are planned, the walls and floors sanded. Complementary elements such as lighting fixtures, fireplace, or kitchen backsplash are made of raw steel, contrasting with the warm appearance of the wood. The far cantilevering roof edge protects façades and gates against uneven weathering. The total timber consumption amounts to 103 cubic meters: 58 cubic meters for the roof, 27 for the walls, 13 for the floor, and 4 for the sliding gates.

Thanks to the prefabrication of the main elements, the construction time on site was kept short. This reduced emissions, preserved flora and fauna, and met the requirements of ecological and environmentally compatible building. Thus, in 2008, a new Trublerhütte was created, whose monolithic, sculptural appearance captivates, harmoniously integrates into the forest space, and at the same time continues the tradition of the place in a contemporary architectural language.

Client: Stadt Schlieren

Planning: Rossetti+Wyss Architekten, Lüchinger Meyer Partner AG, Zürcher Elektroplanungen AG, Bakus Bauphysik & Akustik GmbH

Photos: © Jürg Zimmermann

Competition: 2006, 1. Prize