6038 Walderlebniszentrum Grafrath

Location:
Grafrath, Germany

Completion:
2023

Client:
State Building Authority Freising

Landscape Architecture:
Studio Vulkan

Architecture:
Meininghaus + Meßenzehl Architekten

Photography:
Daniela Valentini

Details:

• [forest]
• [learning]
• [vegetation]

Embedded in the Forest

In the southwest of Munich, the Grafrath Forestry Trial Garden has evolved into a diverse mosaic of native and exotic tree species.

With its park-like network of paths, the forest forms the green heart of the municipality of Grafrath, which has grown in an arc around this central landscape space. Ancient yew groves, a solitary giant sequoia, dense forestry plantations, and open orchard clearings – visitors can explore this rich variety along a designated discovery trail.

The central point of arrival and educational hub of the site is the new Forest Experience Center. Shaped like a forked branch, the building is embedded within the existing woodland structure. It serves as a conference venue, administrative office, and starting point for environmental education. With its simple and sustainable design, the center integrates sensitively into the landscape: elevated on stilts above the forest floor, it minimizes physical intrusion. Rainwater from the roof is discharged directly into the surrounding landscape, where it naturally infiltrates.

The outdoor spaces are designed with a restrained approach – featuring unpaved access paths, plantings of woodland edge species, and flowering meadows. The landscape was realized with modest means, using local materials and in close consultation with local foresters. Selective design elements subtly reflect the overarching concept: at the main western entrance, an interpretive sign highlights the global diversity of tree species found in the garden. Leaf shapes, milled into the surface and filled with resin, are arranged into a world map. In front of the main entrance, a sculptural seating element offers space for visiting school groups.