German artist Folke Köbberling is currently working on an extraordinary four-meter-high (approximately 13 feet) architectural sculpture made entirely from sheep's wool at Grafenegg Castle Park in Austria's Krems district. The innovative project, called "Wolldach" (Wool Roof), is designed to serve as both a sound and protective space for visitors.
The castle park regularly hosts artistic projects, and this latest installation has attracted significant public interest. For three days, visitors were invited to participate in a hands-on workshop on the castle's large lawn, working alongside the Berlin-based artist to help construct the wool canopy. Many enthusiasts came to assist in weaving the wool into grid elements that form the structure of the sculptural installation.
The raw material for this unique project comes from a local and sustainable source. The wool was collected from 45 to 50 sheep that have been grazing in the castle park for the past two years. Each sheep produces between two to three kilograms of wool annually, and sheep breeder Lorenz Lindner from Wagram ob der Traisen in the St. Pölten district explained that they gathered wool for two full years to accumulate enough material for the ambitious project.
Artist Folke Köbberling has been exploring wool as an artistic medium for several years, drawn to its remarkable and often overlooked properties. "Wool can do so much," she explained. "Due to its highly complex fibers, wool has properties that allow it to absorb and even catalyze pollutants. It can provide warmth and it can heal, but throughout Europe it's labeled as a waste product because there's no longer any processing of raw wool."
The interactive nature of the project has created a multi-sensory experience for participants. Katrina Petter, director of Public Art Lower Austria, described the engaging aspects of the workshop: "All senses are addressed: exploring the wool with your hands, the scent it gives off." The tactile and olfactory elements of working with raw wool have added an unexpected dimension to the artistic collaboration.
The ambitious "Wolldach" project represents both an artistic statement and an environmental commentary on the undervalued potential of natural materials. The completed sculpture will demonstrate wool's architectural possibilities while creating a functional space for visitors to experience. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2026, giving the artist and any additional volunteers ample time to finish the intricate weaving work required for the large-scale installation.
