Visitor Center and Guesthouse

Nestled within the dense pine forests of the Harz National Park, this architectural project establishes a harmonious dialogue between modern tourism and the serene landscape surrounding the historic Oderteich reservoir. Strategically positioned next to the B242 road and integrated into a popular 4.5-kilometer circular hiking trail, the project is divided into two distinct programmatic zones. The visitor center acts as an accessible public gateway, welcoming tourists with a central reception that connects gastronomy, an art gallery, and a shop. This public hub is composed of three distinct architectural volumes oriented toward different focal points in nature, all anchored by a prominent concrete plinth that forms the transition from the interior to the forest floor. In stark contrast, the hiker's hostel is withdrawn deep into the wilderness, creating an expansive, secluded complex where guests can experience absolute tranquility.

The hostel layout is conceived as a progressive cabin village composed of geometric structures built on a strict five-meter square footprint. The master plan organizes these units into seven triangular clusters of three houses each, carefully threaded between the existing pine trees along the water's edge to maximize shared green community spaces and preserve unobstructed sightlines toward the reservoir. A twelve-bed dormitory functions as the gateway to the village, which then unfolds into ten double-story family apartments that create vertical accents in the canopy, alongside ten single-story double rooms. Timber was chosen as the primary construction material, while the traditional roof profiles echo the historical regional context of the Harz mountains. The historic circular hiking trail cuts directly through the village, serving as the main infrastructural spine and the interactive heart of the layout.

This design is a deliberate study in light and materiality within a dense woodland context. Because the buildings sit tightly between mature pine trees, the interior illumination of the cabins relies on carefully positioned skylights. To heighten the atmospheric impact of this vertical light, the functional living zones are kept along the facade, punctuated only by small openings that frame precise views of the forest. Meanwhile, the public visitor center and art gallery utilize soft, diffuse illumination to optimize exhibition spaces. Every material choice, from the natural wood cladding that weathers gracefully over time to the heavy concrete base, reinforces a strong sense of place. This project ultimately delivers an evolving spatial experience where daylight, structural form, and the whispering forest coalesce into a singular journey.