Porsche Pavilion by Henn

Since its opening in 2000, the Autostadt in Wolfsburg receives a new structure, the Porsche Pavilion. The characteristic silhouette is a striking icon within the theme park lagoon landscape. The new brand pavilion of the sports car manufacturer is presented as an organically shaped structure with a curved, softly gleaming roof construction, taking up 400 m² of exhibition and presentation areas.

Curving lines and exciting bends make the Pavilion a dynamic yet reduced sculpture with its characteristics derived from the Porsche brand image. In the seamless building envelope the racy lines pick up speed, reduce their tempo again and send out additional 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. On its entrance side the pavilion juts out for a total of 25 metres above the water surface of the lagoon in front.

Under the large, asymmetrically shaped roof a sheltered external space opens up with seats for several hundred visitors, being optically connected to the surrounding landscape and forming its own acoustic enclosure. The architecture and landscape, interior and exterior, roof and façade are designed as a uniform, flowing continuum, while the exterior of the pavilion designed by WES LandschaftsArchitektur has been integrated into the overall concept of the theme park. Similar to the monocoque type construction used in lightweight construction in the automotive and aircraft industries, the space-forming building envelope assumes a supportive function. A total of 620 stainless steel sheets have been welded together with reinforcing ribs, prefabricated in a shipyard in Stralsund and assembled on site.

Inside the pavilion a concentrated space opens out to provide a tangible experience of the Porsche sports car brand and its history. The elliptically curved ramp takes the fundamental dynamic principle of the architecture and leads visitors down to the presentation area. The exhibition and presentation concept designed by hg merz architekten museumsgestalter and jangled nerves combines the evolution, the engineering and the fascination of Porsche in one memorable image of pioneering tradition.

The Porsche Pavilion at the Autostadt in Wolfsburg has been awarded with the design prize Automotive Brand Award 2012 in the category “Best of Best – Architecture” by the German Design Co.

 

 

 

Info and images © Henn

Porsche Pavilion by Henn