Resplendent Design that depicts BMW
BMW Welt is a perfect example of deconstructivism. Deconstructivism is a development of postmodern architecture that began in the late 1980s. It is influenced by the theory of "Deconstruction", which is a form of semiotic analysis. BMW's new brand-experience and deliver centre, BMW Welt, was opened in October 2007 on a site in Munich, in the district of Milbersthofen, where the motor manufacturer erected its first factory buildings in 1917. It is standing opposite the famous 'Four Cylinder' tower (housing BMW's headquarters) and the BMW Museum.
Located at a busy junction on a city ring road, with excellent links to the public transport system, BMW is a prominent urban landmark. It does not stand as a mere attractive building structure instead it is a delivery centre for cars, exhibition space for the latest BMW designs, plus restaurants, shops, and even a business centre). The various areas within BMW Welt are accommodated under a 'cloud-like' roof emerging from a double cone.
After the decision to build BMW Welt had been approved in the late 1990s, the next burning question was the choice of a suitable site. It was evident that the new adventure and delivery centre had to be built on a location steeped in history, near the present BMW buildings. The best idea was provided by a competition open to all architects. This competition attracted 275 of the world's best architect's bureaus. The jury's verdict was unanimous: the winner was the fascinating design submitted by Professor Wolf D Prix and his Viennese office Coop Himmelb (l) au. Coop Himmelblau was founded by Wolf Prix, Helmut Swiczinsky and Michael Holzer and gained international acclaim alongside Peter Eisenman, Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry with the 1988 exhibition, "Deconstructivist Architecture" at the Museum of Modern Art. Their work ranges from commercial buildings to residential projects.
One of the central design ideas is to expand the existing configuration of the BMW Tower and the museum with an additional element so as to create a spatial, ideal, and identity-forming architectural ensemble. The design proposal by Coop Himmelb (I) au consists of a large transparent hall with a sculptural roof and a double cone informed by the relation with the existing company headquarter building. This jaw dropper is a milestone in the career of Wolf Prix. Coop HImmelb was the chief planner and some 30 sub-planners, over 120 architects and engineers were involved in total. The Parkhaus West and the Park-and-Ride areas were cleared for the building project. During the specialised underground civil engineering work between January and June 2004, soil was excavated to a depth of 14 metres. The celebrations for the laying of the foundation stone took place before work started on the building shell on July 16th 2004, with the then Bavarian Prime Minister Dr. Edmund Stoiber and the Mayor of Munich Christian Ude in attendance. At the beginning of 2005, the numerous architects and construction staff started on the structural steelwork and the first sections of the building began to be visible. Facade construction also proceeded swiftly as the building took on increasingly concrete shape.
BMW Welt's muscular, stainless-steel-clad body rises with the energy and force of a giant version of Umberto Boccioni's Unique Forms of Continuity in Space. Poised by the side of a highway on the edge of Munich, it is stunning: not only because it got built, but because it is so well crafted.
The inner topography convinces by its varied density of rooms and floating partitioning of the areas. The main element of the BMW Welt is the large, transparent plaza with sculpted roof and a double cone derived from the already existing central building. The plaza is not only a market place for a wide range of different uses but also an unmistakable symbol for the BMW Group. The inner topography stands out with its differing room densities and flexible partitioning of the effective areas. The vehicle delivery zone 'Premiere' is the heart of the plaza, with the customer lounges hovering above and offering a view of the event room and BMW headquarters.
Stainless Steel Crowns Roof
The roof structure measuring around 16,000 Sqm in size consists basically of an upper and a lower girder grillage with a basic grid of five by five metres. The roof is up to 15m high and clad entirely in stainless steel panels, rests on only a few columns and support points. As well as its protective function, the roof also both defines and encloses space. Its rising and falling underside articulates the hall below, marking out the different functional zones and giving the building its innovative and dynamic character. The upper layer is shaped like a cushion at the top. The lower layer is shaped by simulated reactions to the areas below. Between the layers, inserted struts link the two layers of girder grillage, creating a spatial supporting structure. Its prominent position and unusual, curved shape make the 28m high double cone an ideal venue for temporary exhibitions and events. The cone's frame, its shape derived from a rotational hyperboloid figure, is a triangular lattice structure of hollow steel sections. Hot or cold water is pumped through these welded profiles in a closed loop, to heat the building in winter or cool it in summer. For the outer skin 900 different glass panels were used, each different in size, to fit the different dimensions of the triangular sections in the steel frame.
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| For the outer skin 900 different glass panels were used, each different in size, to fit the different dimensions of the triangular sections in the steel frame |
The underside of the roof is also of stainless steel. The 5,000 panels, all of different dimensions, are perforated, which gives the roof a different appearance-ranging from corporeal to partially transparent-depending on the angle of incident light. A network of high-grade steel panels between solar modules on the roof captures solar gain which is distributed throughout the building for heating. The building also nets solar energy through the façade which works to moderate conditioned air and provide natural ventilation. Thermally efficient surfaces inside help to maintain constant thermal comfort and control temperature swings. Vegetation near ventilation elements helps cool incoming air in warmer months and filters dust particles year round.
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| A network of high-grade steel panels between solar modules on the roof captures solar gain which is distributed throughout the building for heating. |
The facade
The facade is a modified post-and-beam system. A kink in the posts at 7.50 m and further bracing at 15 m reduces the free spans to achieve small post cross-sections in ratio to the façade height. Another advantage of the kink is that vertical deformation of the roof can be absorbed by elastic bending deformation of the posts. This eliminates the need for expansion joints in the roof. The glazing is clamped directly to the beams and adhered to the butt joints.
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The glazing is clamped directly to the beams and adhered to the butt joints. The full-height glazed facades allow inside and outside space to merge, while within the single-volume hall large-format stainless steel panels achieve visual continuity between the different functional zones. The matt gleam on the surface of the three dimensionally curved 2mm and 3mm stainless steel sheets was achieved by blasting with glass beads. At the wish of the architects, the roof panels were also blasted with glass beads, creating a relatively rough surface which will need to be protected against a build-up of damaging deposits.
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Ventilation of the building is implemented using the large wall areas and partly the edges of the roof. The large wall elements pointing west can be opened as an expedient measure when outside temperatures exceed +5°C throughout the summer months. While this provides specific partial ventilation at lower temperatures, once the outside temperatures exceed +20°C large expanses of glazing are opened to turn the inside areas into exterior space. This generates currents similar to source air in the building; these are then heated by inner heat sources, resulting in a thermal forced-ventilation effect from bottom to top. Solar energy is put to passive and active use in energy generation by means of photovoltaic systems with 810 MW peak output.
Energy-saving Structure
The building is operated by making full use of natural resources to minimise energy consumption. Enveloping surfaces of glass with low heat transmission coefficient ensure that the requirements of the Heat Insulation Ordinance are met on the one hand, while generating thermally comfortable surface temperatures on the other. Floor and wall structures enhance the storage capability.
Thermal uplift currents and also warm air cushions are mostly discharged straight to the outside in the layered part of the roof so that they do not encumber the effective areas below. This saves energy and protects the environment.
Accolades
The BMW Welt was named a "Selected Landmark of 2008" as part of the initiative "Germany Land of Ideas" under the sponsorship of President Horst Köhler. Rudolf Wiedemann, Head of the BMW Welt, was handed the certificate by Stefan Bruckner, Marketing Director of "Land of Ideas" at an official ceremony prior to the Sunday jazz matinee at the Double Cone of the BMW Welt. BMW Welt Expansion
In autumn 2011 the BMW Group Board of Management made the strategic decision to expand BMW Welt to include all active brands. After a reconstruction phase in 2012, carried out while maintaining day-to-day operations, the BMW Welt expansion was completed on October 20th/21st and celebrated in grand style with an event weekend welcoming visitors from all over Bavaria. From now on, visitors can not only experience the fascination of the brand BMW but also MINI, Rolls-Royce and Husqvarna.
Fact Sheet:
Formal name of project: BMW Welt
Location: Munich, Germany
Gross square footage: 25.000 m2 sq.ft.
Total construction cost: Above 100 Million Euro
Client: BMW AG, Munich, Germany
Architect: COOP HIMMELB(L)AU
Project manager Hans Lechner
Structural engineers Bollinger and Grohmann, Schmitt Stumpf Fruhauf and Partners
Mechanical engineer Kuhn Bauer + Partner
Lighting consultant AG-Licht
Cladding consultant Emmer Pfenninger + Partner
The realization of the technical building with five thematic blocks: Hall, Premiere, Forum, Tower and Double Cone.
Hall-A low-tech concept optimised ecologically using high-tech methods
The concept for the technological building systems takes up these relationships and integrates them in an interdependent manner, adapting their range of influence by modifying their dimensions or building in appropriate control mechanisms. A major goal in designing the systems was to save energy. This aim is achieved by minimizing the mechanical apparatus for ventilation, heating and cooling. The gigantic Hall is thus conceived as a solar-heated, naturally ventilated sub-climatic area, a multifunctional space that does not follow the otherwise customary requirements for heating and ventilation. A natural air supply is generated by thermal currents, wind pressure and turbulences when air accumulates in the area of the facade and roof projection. Air intake and outflow take place through automatically controlled vents. The "natural aeration" system provides sufficient fresh air to the Hall.
The Hall's roof system has special significance for the complex made up of heat, cold and air. A 3D simulation of thermal currents and air streams was conducted in order to investigate the spread of exhaust fumes from the cars driven on the Premiere level. Iterative calculations were then carried out to optimize the arrangement of air intake and outflow vents for natural air exchange in such a way that it was possible to remain below the permitted threshold value of around 10%.
Premiere-Exhaust gas diffusion prevented through negative pressure
The key task of the new BMW Welt is to deliver cars - in the Premiere section - with all concepts geared toward enhancing the experience of delivery. Because of the exhaust gases that this task involves, special considerations and calculations had to be made in terms of the ventilation plan, since the Premiere is open to the Hall - the major space in this world of experience. Beyond merely fine-tuning the volume of air intake and outflow currents, it was also important to extract the exhaust fumes directly and pump in fresh air. Planning here was based on an assumed turnover of 40 cars per hour, or 250 cars per day.
Forum-A room-in-a-room for maximum flexibility
The Forum is a separate event area for up to 1,200 persons, equipped to meet all the specifications for a full-fledged theatre or conference room.
The ventilation technology fulfils the high demands on comfort and soundproofing placed on such a sensitive area when it is situated in the middle of other function areas. The technical facilities for this special area were conceived independently, including a plan for integrating them into the architecture. Air is supplied laterally via air jets and is extracted through the ceiling as exhaust air. Based on the number of people in the room, infinite adjustment of the required air volume is possible.
Tower-Island solutions place high demands on building systems to ensure well-being
The technical equipment discreetly supports the gastronomic functions. In places where guests spend longer periods of time, air sources are placed near the floor. In order to ensure pleasant air quality even near the glass facades, the vertical facade support profiles are heated to prevent the cold downdrafts typical for this kind of construction.
Double Cone-An event space offering all the options of a public assembly place
The Double Cone is used as an exhibition space and for special events. Air is brought in by means of a low-induction system along the base of the facade and streams into the roof through the opening at the top of the cone. Floor air conditioning and air circulation coolers in the wall and floor areas ensure the necessary comfort level. In the in-between seasons, natural ventilation via facade shutters is used. The structural design of BMW Welt represents a special challenge when determining how to conduct supply lines. Because of the vast support-free space, which is borne by only 11 columns plus the elevator shafts, the supply cross-sections for the Lounge floors and the Tower had to be integrated into the few supporting core cross-sections. This situation necessitated close coordination at a very early project phase between those responsible for structural engineering, the routing of facility services and building technology.
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