historical deep dive

Built in the early 20th century, they are closely tied to Otto Hetzer’s patented system of glued laminated timber from 1906, which enabled large-span structures with unprecedented efficiency and flexibility. By bonding thin layers of wood into curved or parabolic beams, the method allowed for lightweight yet highly resilient load-bearing systems. The resulting I-shaped profiles became a defining element of early engineered timber structures and laid the foundation for contemporary timber construction as we know it today.The halls in Weimar stood as a rare and significant example of this innovation until the collapse of the so-called “Große Hetzerhalle” in February 2021, likely caused by a combination of snow loads and pre-existing structural damage. Our work engages with this architectural legacy, documenting and reconstructing a key moment in the history of structural design and material innovation.