BMW Welt

BMW Welt at night

BMW Welt (English – BMW World), is a multi-functional customer experience and exhibition facility of the BMW AG, located in Munich, Germany. In direct proximity to the BMW Headquarters and the Olympiapark, it is designed to present the current products of BMW, be a distribution center for BMW cars, and offer an event forum and a conference center.

Design and construction

At night

In 2001 an international architectural design competition was sponsored by BMW AG. Twenty-seven offices participated in the competition[1] four of which were awarded prizes. The jury awarded two offices Sauerbruch Hutton and COOP HIMMELB(L)AU first prize and made the recommendation for the competitors to rework their design submissions in a third design phase in order for BMW to determine which office would be awarded the contract.

The contract was awarded to the Vienna-based architects COOP HIMMELB(L)AU and the facility was constructed from August 2003 through summer 2007 at a cost of US$200 million.[2] Originally conceived to be open and ready for World Cup 2006, it eventually opened on October 17, 2007, and deliveries commenced on October 23, 2007. The first customer to take European delivery of a new BMW at the Welt was Jonathan Spira.[3] There were 2,200,000 visitors during the first 12 months of operation.[2] The number of visitors increased to 2,930,000 in 2013, of which 60% came from Germany.[4]

Designed with an 800 kW solar plant on its roof, "the building does not have the boredom of a hall, it is not only a temple, but also a market place and a communication center and meeting place for knowledge transfer", said architect Prix at the opening ceremony.[5]

Operations

BMW Welt, Munich operates in co-operation with other BMW facilities in the local community, particularly the BMW Museum and BMW Headquarters.[6]

BMW Welt focuses on strengthening the dialogue with customers and visitors by showing a wide range of BMW cars and motorcycles, and providing vehicle distribution, particularly the creation of a special experience with regards to customer collection of an ordered vehicle. BMW Welt also offers shops with BMW auxiliary products, as well as a fully serviced gastronomic restaurant. In the meeting forum, BMW Welt offers conference rooms and the opportunity to stage media events. The building often houses exhibitions related to new BMW models and, since 2012, other BMW Group brands such as Mini and Rolls-Royce.[2]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ BMW Welt Architectural Competition
  2. 1 2 3 Hemmes, Henny (March 2013). "Family Affair". Roundel 45 (3): 68–72.
  3. ↑ Rudolf Stumberger und Miriam Zerbel (2007-10-15). "Bauen für die Zukunft". Die Welt. Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  4. ↑ "BMW Welt attracted almost 3,000,000 visitors last year". Roundel 46 (4): 46. April 2014.
  5. ↑ "a3-bau" Nr. 11/07 vom 22.11.2007, Seite 20.
  6. ↑ BMW AG: Geschichte: BMW Classic

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to BMW Welt.

Coordinates: 48°10′37″N 11°33′24″E / 48.17694°N 11.55667°E / 48.17694; 11.55667

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