The Seerhein Panorama in Konstanz represents a unique fusion of art, architecture, and engineering.
Designed by sauerbruch hutton, the building—rising to around 52 meters—will be the tallest timber structure in Baden-Württemberg, standing as a visible symbol of sustainable construction and cultural innovation.
Inside, visitors will experience a breathtaking 360° panorama by artist Yadegar Asisi, bringing to life the atmosphere of the medieval Council of Constance.
Above the more than 30-meter-high exhibition space, a restaurant with a rooftop terrace offers panoramic views over Lake Constance and the Alps—an architectural landmark that unites art and city in a truly captivating way.

The Seerhein Panorama is a hybrid structure of timber, concrete, and steel—technically sophisticated yet visually light.
The main exhibition hall is supported by a custom-engineered timber frame featuring glued-laminated timber columns over 30 meters tall.
This structure is complemented by timber–concrete composite slabs and tensile steel members, which together achieve extraordinary spans.
The colorful, three-dimensionally folded façade of expanded metal creates a vibrant play of light and motion—a principle of “kinetic polychromy” that gives the building a constantly changing appearance.
Here, engineering precision and artistic dynamism merge to form a structure of unmistakable character.

The timber design is conceived to eliminate the need for chemical wood protection.
Controlled indoor climate zones (usage classes 1 and 0) ensure ideal conditions for interior elements, while exterior timber components are protected by multi-layer systems with weather membranes and durable wood claddings.
Even on the exposed terraces, roofed areas and replaceable façade layers ensure long-term resilience.
In this project, structural timber protection is an integral part of the architecture itself—functional, aesthetic, and sustainable in equal measure.

The building meets the Efficiency House Standard EG40 EE and operates entirely without fossil fuels.
A heat pump system with thermally activated bore piles harnesses geothermal energy for both heating and cooling.
Additionally, the façade incorporates non-combustible internal insulation, combining thermal performance with fire safety.
Together, these measures create an energy-optimized overall system, reducing environmental impact, operating costs, and embodied energy alike.

The climate control concept integrates activated building components, heat pumps, and air distribution systems.
The combination of thermally activated bore piles and natural air circulation ensures a comfortable indoor climate—even within the hall’s impressive vertical volume.
The system adapts dynamically to temperature fluctuations and visitor density, providing consistent comfort with minimal energy use.

The Seerhein Panorama is a pioneering project for fire protection in high-rise timber construction.
As both a high-rise and a public assembly building, it required a performance-based fire safety concept that reconciles safety and the visible presence of timber.
A CFD smoke simulation analysis guarantees smoke extraction in the 34-meter-high exhibition space, while high-pressure water mist systems ensure protection in the upper floors.
A reinforced concrete core with two escape routes and terraces serving as emergency areas ensures comprehensive safety—an exemplary balance of innovation and responsibility.

The building seamlessly combines exhibition, gastronomy, and panoramic experience into one cohesive whole.
By day, it serves as a venue for art and education; by night, it transforms into a meeting place overlooking the city and the lake.
Its flexible structural framework allows for diverse spatial configurations, making the Panorama a place of exchange, inspiration, and identity—for Konstanz, for Baden-Württemberg, and for the future of modern timber architecture.