Airship Hangar in Mülheim, Germany, Showcases Advanced Timber Engineering

A new timber hangar in Mülheim, Germany, is drawing attention as an example of advanced timber engineering, Planning, Building & Construction Today reported (12-8-25). Completed at the end of 2022, the Airship Hangar Mülheim replaces a lightweight textile hall and now serves as a maintenance and winter storage facility for WDL Luftschiffgesellschaft.

Authorities permitted only a replacement structure, requiring the new building to match the original footprint and curved profile. Unlike the old steel hall, the new version was designed entirely in timber. Smyk Fischer chose a truss concept to achieve an industrial yet lightweight aesthetic, and structural engineers Ripkens Wiesenkämper—working with Marx Krontal Partner—developed a timber-only truss system. Nearly 600 engineered timber nodes and beams allowed the structure to eliminate steel.

The hangar consists of 15 two-hinged arches reaching 26 meters in height. Top chords and diagonal members integrate with a CLT roof shell, and an aluminum standing-seam system forms the exterior cladding.

A defining feature is the double-leaf door. Each 72-ton wing relies on precision engineering by Dr Schippke + Partner, combining massive hinges with a guided track system.

The project emphasizes sustainability. Using approximately 557 tons of spruce avoided an estimated 156 tons of carbon compared with a steel solution. The timber frame and aluminum skin are fully demountable for reuse or recycling, with components logged in a building resource passport on the Madaster database.