Buildings for Cars

Source: wikipedia.org

BMW Central Building, Leipzig, Germany, 2005 designed by Zaha Hadid Architects

.... constituted a radical reinterpretation of the traditional office -- transforming the building and the functions it contains into a more dynamic, engaging 'nerve centre' or 'communication knot' -- funneling all movement around the manufacturing complex through a space that transcends conventional white collar/blue collar spatial division. -- architect's web site

Source: unstudio.com

Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart, Germany, 2006 designed by UNStudio

The Museum’s sophisticated geometry synthesizes structural and programmatic organizations resulting in a new landmark building celebrating a legendary car. The geometric model employed is based on the trefoil organization. The building’s program is distributed over the surfaces which ascend incrementally from ground level, spiraling around a central atrium. -- architect's web site

Source: zigersnead.com 

BMW Welt, Munich, Germany, 2007 designed by Cooperative Himmelb (l) au

The architecture is an experiment in fluid spatial encounters. Outside, BMW Welt’s steel and glass façade whirls seamlessly into the Double Cone – a dynamic 48 meter wide helical feature that provides structural support to the building’s floating “Cloud Roof.” -- Ziger/Snead

Source: Brigida Gonzalez mymodernmet.com

Porsche Museum, Stuttgart, Germany, 2009 designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects

The fascinating impact of the monolithic, virtually floating exhibition hall can be felt. This bold and dynamic architecture reflects the company’s philosophy. It is designed to convey a sense of arrival and approachability, and to guide the visitors smoothly from the basement level into the superstructure - this is how the architects express their dedication.

In their design, the architects at Delugan Meissl set out to create a place of sensuous experience that reflects the authenticity of Porsche products and services as well as the company’s character, while also reshaping Porscheplatz with an unmistakable appearance. -- official web site

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Source: Paul Warchol archdaily.com

NASCAR Hall of Fame, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, 2010 designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners

The results of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners’s explorations of speed and spectacle evolved into an architectural element they call the Ribbon, which envelops the varied program elements in a form that speaks to the imagery and spirit of NASCAR. Beginning as a curved, sloping exterior wall enclosing the building, the Ribbon twists in a free span over the main entry to form a welcoming canopy. Inspired by the dynamic quality of speed, captured in a second as a blur on film, the long, thin incisions in this metal skin are analogous to the blur of a car racing past the spectator at tremendous speed.  -- ArchDaily

Source: Miguel de Guzman archdaily.com

Mapfre Automovile Services Centre, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain, 2010 designed by Beriot, Bernardini Arquitectos

First floor is dedicated mainly to vehicle storage, with all heating, cooling and water and electrical services placed above the ramp. The whole floor is wrapped in a perforated metal sheet, which allows veiled views of parked cars; its impressive corporate red endows the building a powerful and easily identifiable image. -- ArchDaily

Source: Cino Zucchi Architetti archdaily.com

National Automobile Museum, Turin, Italy, 2011 designed by Cino Zucchi Architetti

The existing courtyard becomes a new event space thanks to the addition of a glass roof which illuminates the space. By making the existing courtyard an internal space, onto which the museum routes face, the visitors are provided with a very natural means of orientation. The new wing on the west side, a large undivided space which provides very flexible exhibition space, integrates the existing body embracing the side of the building and giving continuity to the two “urban” elevations. -- ArchDaily

Source: HG Esch archdaily.com

Porsche Pavilion at the Autostadt, Wolfsburg, Germany, 2012 designed by Henn Architekten

Curving lines and exciting bends make the Pavilion a dynamic yet reduced sculpture with its characteristics derived from the Porsche brand image. As designed by HENN, the structure captures the dynamic flow of driving with a seamless building skin. Its lines pick up speed and slow down just to plunge forward in large curves with ever-changing radii. A matte-finished stainless steel cladding forms the flush envelope of this vibrant structure, creating the impression of a homogeneous unity, whilst creating a continuously changing appearance depending on light and weather conditions. -- ArchDaily

Source: Edmund Sumner archdaily.com

BMW Group Pavilion, London, UK, 2012 designed by Serie Architects

One of the pavilion’s functions is to display BMW’s new fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles. These vehicles use carbon fibre bodywork with fluid soft curves. The geometry of the pavilion roofs manifests a similar calm and rationale attitude to geometry through the use of off-phase sinusoidal curves set out in symmetrical arrangement. The dynamism of this form is a function of the immediate associations: wave forms, fluid dynamics, air flow all incorporate similar patterns. What is important here is that this form is an abstraction of these associations. The geometry does not imitate or in any sense look like something else: it is therefore best understood as the idea of fluidity. -- ArchDaily

Source: Andrea Morgante archdaily.com

Enzo Ferrari Museum, Modena, Italy, 2012 designed by Jan Kaplický of Future Systems

Designed by the late Jan Kaplický, the Czech-born founder of Future Systems, this colossal aluminum hood rises to the same height as the historic buildings. Its bulging crest is slit by 10 protruding gills, evoking the molded metal skin and air vents of car bodies without making literal reference to them. Despite the new structure’s extroverted form, color, and technology, Kaplický conceived it as a passive addition, like an open hand protecting the L-shaped complex of original buildings. It is parked discretely, like a very expensive car, in the background. -- ARCHITECT Magazine

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Source: LARGE Architecture archdaily.com

LeMay Museum, Tacoma, Washington, USA, 2012 designed by LARGE Architecture

A soaring roof system made with curved glulam beams offers a striking sense of grandeur while simultaneously lending a warm, grounded aesthetic to the vast space.   Nicknamed “America’s Car Museum,” the 165,000-square-foot facility was created to celebrate America’s love affair with the automobile. -- ArchDaily

Source: Angelo Kaunat archdaily.com

Pappas Headquarters – Mercedes Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria designed by Kadawittfeldarchitektur

The user can move within the building as if on a public road: it is possible to drive through, park, get out of the car and experience the world of automobiles. The garage facilities and the sales offices are layered on top of each other and can be reached directly by car. -- ArchDaily

Source: Petersen Automotive Museum archdaily.com

Petersen Automotive Museum Unveils Eye-Catching New Exterior by Kohn Pedersen Fox

The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles has announced that it will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014 with a redesign of its interior and a complete transformation of its exterior facade to create a “world class museum that will showcase the art, experience, culture and heritage of the automobile.” The exterior design by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates will give the Petersen a truly unique and iconic look that will hopefully attract architecture and car enthusiasts alike. -- ArchDaily