Paludi Malchin Summer School 2025

During the Paludi Malchin Summer School 2025, a full-scale architectural prototype was developed to explore the potential of wetland plants in regenerative construction. The project centers around the use of Molinia caerulea (purple moor grass), a native species found in peatlands and moor landscapes across Europe.

During a five-day workshop at the Wasserwerk site near Malchin, interdisciplinary student teams collaborated to design and build a pavilion using locally harvested Molinia and reed. The resulting structure consists of three distinct thatched modules. These modules were assembled on-site using low-tech tools and techniques, emphasizing hands-on learning and site-specific fabrication.

The demonstrator stands as a testament to the potential of paludiculture materials in architectural design, showcasing both their aesthetic and structural qualities and exploring the intersection of architecture, landscape, and climate-positive material cycles.

It invites reflection on how building practices can contribute to the regeneration of wet ecosystems and the development of circular, biogenic design strategies.

Duration

May 2025

In Collaboration with

RWTH Aachen University, Act of Building Prof. Laurens Bekemans
Thünen Institut e.V.
Wasserzweckverband Malchin Stavenhagen
Der Moorbauer
Wasserwerk der Zukunft

Project Team

Prof. Niklas Fanelsa, Theresa Zschäbitz, Quentin Bourgignon

Guests

Bauhaus Earth
Greifswald Moor Centrum
BC Architects
Studio Susanne Brorson
Gut Scharpzow

Student Team

Lotte Becher, Josua de Fallois, Lea Gersch, Thomas Godau, Jan Gutjahr, Jonathan Hanssen, Julian Hartauer, Martha Knapp, Thiade Langenhan, Yasemin Pamir, Clara Rimkeit, Mario Rolli, Johanna Roth, Jakob Spickers, Regine Stammermann, Elina Tensi, Ondrej Zgraja, Nele Ziegler