Autostadt Roof and Service Pavilion

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Project type

Urban Planning

Status

Built

Location

Wolfsburg, Germany

Time

2012–2013

Client

Autostadt Wolfsburg

Planning of the structural framework

schlaich bergermann partner Brunnenstraße 110c, 13355 Berlin

Landscape Architect

WES – Landschaftsarchitektur Jarrestraße 80, 22303 Hamburg

Contractor Roof Structure

Eiffel Deutschland Stahltechnologie GmbH Hackethalstraße 4, 30179 Hannover with Taiyo Europe GmbH Mühlweg 2, 82054 Sauerlach

Photos

Tobias Hein

Awards

American Architecture Prize 2016: Bronze, Deutscher Stahlbaupreis der Ingenieure 2015, International Architecture Awards 2014, SARA NY Design Awards 2014

Driver-assistance systems, including automatic parking, traffic-sign recognition and automatic distance control are increasingly common in cars of today. The new driving experience at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg offers visitors the opportunity to try out these and other technical assistance systems designed to increase road traffic safety in models manufactured by Volkswagen. The attraction, with an area of around 15,000m², was built in only ten months and opened in August 2013.

GRAFT was commissioned to create a separate area where buyers of new cars can familiarise themselves with the new functions without the pressure of everyday traffic. The space needed to be sheltered from rain and direct sunlight, while permitting sufficient daylight to obviate the need for expensive and unnecessary artificial lighting.

GRAFT was commissioned to create an area where prospective new-car buyers could familiarize themselves with their new functions without the stress of everyday traffic. The space needed to be sheltered from rain and direct sunlight, but at the same time had to let in enough daylight to prevent the need for expensive and unnecessary artificial lighting.

GRAFT’s concept is based on the idea of a leaf lying on the ground, its organic form sheltering the landscape beneath it (designed by WES-Landschaftsarchitektur). To adequately capture this idea, the architecture needed to be as lightweight as possible. The roof employs a structural principle to rest on just two points, so that it appears to lie on the ground defining a sheltered space beneath it. The approximately 130-ton steel construction – designed by schlaich bergermann partner – is borne by two concrete foundations, anchored 20 metres into the ground.

GRAFT’s concept is based on the idea of a leaf lying on the ground, its organic form sheltering the landscape beneath (designed by WES-Landschaftsarchitektur). To adequately capture this idea, the roof construction needed to seem as light as possible. It achieves this by resting on just two points, giving the impression that it is lying on the ground, defining a sheltered space beneath it. The approximately 130-ton steel construction—designed by Schlaich Bergermann Partner—is borne by two concrete foundations anchored 20 meters into the ground.

The arching gesture of the roof and its orientation is welcoming in its nature; the elegant, graceful geometry creates a visual connection between beneath and beyond, between the surroundings and the sky.

All ancillary functions are hosed in the accompanying service pavilion: customers can receive assistance about their new car, purchase accessories or book other attractions and activities in the Autostadt. To avoid detracting from the impression of the roof as a resting leaf, the pavilion is embedded in the landscape rather than articulated as a separate building. The design of the interior in turn echoes specific aspects of the roof.

All ancillary functions are housed in the adjacent service pavilion: customers can receive assistance about their new car, purchase accessories or book other attractions and activities in the Autostadt. To avoid detracting from the impression of the roof as a leaf resting on the ground, the pavilion is embedded in the landscape rather than articulated as a separate building. Its interior in turn echoes specific aspects of the roof.