A groundbreaking climate pavilion designed as a 'seasonal house' has opened in Schwerte, located on the southeastern edge of the Ruhr area in Germany. The 265-square-meter structure, created by NEW Architects from Cologne in collaboration with Jutta Albus Architektur from Leverkusen, serves as the centerpiece of the newly developed Climate Garden, which is being prepared for the International Garden Exhibition 2027.
The innovative pavilion was conceived through an extensive public participation process that began in late 2021, facilitated by the urban planning firm die Urbanisten from Dortmund. Rather than requesting a finished design, the city's tender process sought a compelling usage concept that would serve the community throughout the seasons. The architects successfully delivered on their vision of creating a space that provides shade in summer and protected areas for events during winter months.
The Climate Garden itself represents a comprehensive approach to combining recreation with education, featuring orchards, raised garden beds, and educational trails. The landscape architecture concept for the garden was developed by Förder Landschaftsarchitekten from Cologne, with a full presentation of the project scheduled for spring 2025. This integrated approach ensures that the pavilion functions as part of a larger environmental education initiative.
Architecturally, the building draws clear inspiration from greenhouse design, particularly evident in its almost completely glazed, hall-like interior space. The architects emphasized that the interior does not fight against the outdoor climate but rather creates a space that remains in constant dialogue with the surrounding Climate Garden throughout the year. This philosophy is reflected in the structure's lightweight construction using untreated solid wood for the load-bearing structure and regional calamity timber damaged by bark beetles for the facade.
The pavilion's most striking feature is its asymmetrically folded roof, whose geometry ensures sufficient energy input through strategically placed photovoltaic modules. Simultaneously, rainwater collection plays a crucial role in the building's sustainability concept. The collected rainwater is stored in cisterns and used for toilet facilities and plant irrigation, creating a closed-loop water management system.
Construction efficiency was prioritized through the use of highly prefabricated timber frame and timber cassette elements for walls and roof. Large-format sliding doors seamlessly connect interior and exterior spaces, allowing for flexible use throughout the seasons. All wood and metal components are deliberately left untreated, with their visual transformation over time being a desired feature that emphasizes the building's experimental nature.
The architects gained valuable experience for this project through their previous work on a small kiosk for the Luxembourg Garden Show LUGA 2025. This experience informed their approach to creating what they describe as a 'built experiment' that achieves maximum utility through simple means while maintaining constant dialogue with the changing seasons.
Financially, the overall project represents a significant investment in sustainable community infrastructure, with a total budget of approximately 3.3 million euros. The pavilion itself accounts for about 800,000 euros of this investment, while the majority of funding—3 million euros—comes from federal subsidies, demonstrating strong governmental support for innovative climate-conscious architecture.
The visible installations and deliberately raw architectural character reinforce the experimental nature of the project. This approach aligns with the broader goals of the International Garden Exhibition 2027, which seeks to showcase innovative approaches to climate adaptation and sustainable community spaces. The pavilion stands as a testament to how architecture can respond to environmental challenges while serving practical community needs throughout the changing seasons.
