Wooden construction is booming: a couple in Thale relies on a climate-friendly witch's house

Wooden construction is booming: a couple in Thale relies on a climate-friendly witch's house

In Thale, a picturesque town in the Harz district, the Machemehl brothers from Rieder have decided to breathe new life into wooden construction. At a time when climate-friendly construction methods are becoming increasingly important, a couple is having their extension built on a charming wooden “witch’s house”. The three-sided extension is not only an architectural highlight, but also an example of the advantages of wooden construction, which are clearly noticeable for both the surrounding area and the residents. The Machemehls use modern manufacturing methods to process wood in innovative ways and do good business with it.

Wooden houses, as master carpenter Sven Machemehl emphasizes, are more climate-friendly compared to solid stone or concrete structures and offer excellent thermal insulation options. In Saxony-Anhalt, despite its wealth of forests, timber construction is not yet as widespread as in other federal states, especially in the south of Germany. Here, climate researcher Hans Joachim Schellnhuber is calling for a timber construction initiative to promote sustainable construction methods. Environment Minister Armin Willingmann also supports this initiative and emphasizes the need to further promote timber construction.

Advantages of wooden construction

The Jacobs couple's extension is built with a wooden frame construction and has a 16 cm thick solid wood ceiling. The structure was prefabricated in just four days, which not only shortened the construction time but was also environmentally friendly. The insulation is done with soft wood fiber boards on the outside and wood fibers that are blown into the walls on the inside. These environmentally friendly materials contribute to a healthy indoor climate and reduce heating costs. A real plus in times of rising energy costs!

The Machemehls can look back on over 150 years of tradition in timber construction. The Jacobs couple, who are well informed through practical experience in timber construction, appreciate the health and climate-friendly benefits of this construction method. Sven Machemehl is also observing a slow shift towards timber construction among municipalities and public clients. Architects President Axel Teichert is calling for more renovations with wood and the reuse of existing materials in order to further promote change.

While timber construction is on the rise in Saxony-Anhalt, the comparison to other federal states remains remarkable. If you consider that the first half-timbered houses were built in this region in the 13th century, there is great potential here. But with initiatives and the commitment of experts like the Machemehls, a new trend in the construction industry could soon follow.

The people of Cologne should therefore remain attentive, because timber construction has what it takes to both protect the environment and create innovative living concepts - a real benefit for the region!