My World: BMW Welt

Some time ago (actually more than one year) I mentioned that I might post some views of BMW Welt. It took a while to remember, but here they are. Taking these pictures was fun - and that's what it should be.

Starting with the round end:



Different view:



Side view:



Closer:



Other side:



I will add more - later.

Best regards,
Michael

Michael,

This wonderful architecture photography is so appreciated! I'd have thought, in ignorance, that Frank Gehry had designed this space, but actually it's even more biting and adventuresome and that's no overstatement.

I looked up the designers, Coop Himmelblau.

"We want architecture that has more to offer. Architecture that bleeds, exhausts, that turns and even breaks, as far as I am concerned. Architecture that glows, that stabs, that tears and rips when stretched. Architecture must be precipitous, fiery, smooth, hard, angular, brutal, round, tender, colourful, obscene, randy, dreamy, en-nearing, distancing, wet, dry and heart-stopping. Dead or alive. If it is cold, then cold as a block of ice. If it is hot, then as hot as a tongue of flame. Architecture must burn!"

This major BMW center is now a place I want to visit. It's like one of the world wonders to be experienced like an elixir and stimulant to not take things for granted or allow life to take us for granted either!

Asher

Asher - thanks, yes, the works of Coop Himmelblau are amazing.

Here are the next views. For this post I concentrate on the surfaces, starting with detail seen during golden hour.



Best regards,
Michael

Michael Nagel said:

Here are the next views. For this post I concentrate on the surfaces, starting with detail seen during golden hour

Click to expand...

Hi Michael,

I enjoy viewing these images very much!
Thanks for sharing them.

Cheers,
Bart

Bart,

Thanks. I will expand this a little.
There was a time when I was there quite often and there might be I time when I return there for pictures again.

Best regards,
Michael

Michael Nagel said:

Bart,

Thanks. I will expand this a little.
There was a time when I was there quite often and there might be I time when I return there for pictures again.

Best regards,
Michael

Click to expand...

I will be very pleased to see more of this master piece through your nice images.

Michael Nagel said:

Asher - thanks, yes, the works of Coop Himmelblau are amazing.

Click to expand...

Michael,

I believe they have an office in Los Angeles. I'll visit them! However, their designs are likely very expensive with al the bold projections. It would be great if they could build for the individual and not just very wealthy clients. Perhaps they can!




These show extraordinary bite!


Asher

Glass!

Asher - thanks!

This time not so much from the building itself but its surroundings - seen as reflection in the large glass fronts of the building.




Best regards,
Michael

Wow, do I see so much in 'Nordseite', they're are abstract details within that shot that need to be seen and photographed...
I do very much like 'Flachen' and 'Nordseite', this building's heavy angular contours work so well in this 1:1 format.

Paul - thanks! Yes, there are many details to discover.

Here are a few night impressions.




Best regards,
Michael

I am equally fascinated by the architectural studies and the reflections. I'm glad we weren't asked to choose between them ;-)

Antonio - thanks and sorry for noticing your comment this late.

Winston - thank you, here is more.


Repost:



The lensflares here are intentional - I actually tried to produce as many as possible (silly idea, but so what )



The terrace belongs to a restaurant in this building.



Best regards,
Michael

Three more, concentrating on the opening already shown in the first post ('Bridge').



Repost:



Best regards,
Michael

Inside the round part 'Doppelhelix'

Here are a few impressions of the interior of the round part called 'Doppelhelix'.



Best regards,
Michael

Michael Nagel said:

................... interior of the round part called 'Doppelhelix'.

Click to expand...

Michael,

I'm so impressed with the geometry made into form that's so appealing. Is it within the reach of more ordinary mortals like us?

I do wonder whether there were in the planning and execution the great economies of the thinking of way back when the Bauhaus movement flourished? It seems that industrial methods are still being used for public spaces, but likely on a scale of expense that is more akin to the style of Versailles opulence, just with modern motifs and materials.

Or is it possible that the architects have found economical ways of manufacturer and repeat parts use, so that all those individual triangles are of just a few classes. So is this a way of building just for the excessively wealthy, or could one apply this methodology and style for say small city halls or even apartment buildings?

I goes one way of looking at it would be the total area of usable space and then the price of the project. We estimate here as $ price per sq foot. I guess in Germany it would be DM or Euro/meter sq.

Your pictures have me so beguiled! I'd loves to learn more. I think I'm going to look up the Los Angleles office of the architectural company. I discovered that Coop-Himmelblau designed a new and important high school for the arts in central Los Angleles around 2008, discussed here. I think I might have photographed it, but I'll have to check!

Asher

Grab Bag

Asher,

Thanks. I was more focused on the lines, shapes and colours and I did not try to put numbers to it. The numbers can be searched, there is nothing secret to this project.

A few details to finish with this series.




Repost:



That's all for the moment...

Best regards,
Michael

One more from this evening:




Best regards,
Michael

Love the whole series.

Chris,

Thank you.

Here is an overview of the buildings. To the left you see BMW Welt, to the right the Headquarters and the museum to the left of the latter. The Munich factory is behind.




Headquarter and museumt:




Best regards,
Michael

Michael Nagel said:

Chris,

Thank you.

Here is an overview of the buildings. To the left you see BMW Welt, to the right the Headquarters and the museum to the left of the latter. The Munich factory is behind.


Headquarter and museumt:

Click to expand...

Michael,

This building is most remarkable for it's "ordinary modernity" in the main building capped by an architectural complex that's most aggressively pushing autistic envelopes. The top, with its massive stainless steel forms projecting up from the roof moves the building to a new level of esthetic challenge of form and mechanical utility. I imagine that the sculptural elements on the roof house important services such as air conditioning and perhaps the tops of elevator shafts, plumbing freeways and even electoral power management. Do we have any idea about that design process. Did the architects plan first or the other way round?

Asher

Asher Kelman said:

Do we have any idea about that design process. Did the architects plan first or the other way round?

Click to expand...

Hi Asher,

I cannot tell anything about the the design process, but at least that the infrastructure and the elevators are located in the central support tower and the four apparent cylinders are actually suspended from the top. This led to an interesting construction process - each floor was assembled on the ground and lifted. The four cylinders were constructed top to bottom.

Further reading:
Skyscraperpage entry
Archinform entry about the building
Archinform entry about the Architect

Best regards,
Michael

Michael, it is indeed a magical place..for its architecture and its contents

And you have brought us some stunning images of the building's design.

Thank you.