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Courtesy of BMW Group | BMW elevates car purchase from a mere transaction to a ritualistic experience: buyers can choose to pick up their new vehicles from BMW Welt, a futuristic showroom to open to the public on October 20, 2007. BMW Welt (BMW World in English) is, however, much more than a delivery center. This landmark building, situated on a highly visible site between Munich’s Olympic Park and the BMW headquarters, is designed to embrace visitors entirely into the world of BMW. At Automobile Delivery, buyers can meet their new cars as they rotate on turntables. Brand World immerses visitors in visions for future mobility. Junior Campus educates children and young people on autos. Event Forum is a venue for diverse happenings and excitement. Visitors are served by a series of restaurants and shops. BMW expects to deliver 45,000 cars and to receive 800,000 visitors at BMW Welt in a year.
The architectural design, by celebrated Viennese firm Coop Himmelb(l)au, speaks about BMW’s values. The building complex including its materials selection symbolizes dynamism, innovation, and future. The dominating feature is a “double cone,” a glass-and-steel structure that supports a cloud-like roof. Here perforated stainless steel panels act as both an aesthetic and a functional element, providing the desired impressions as well as sun protection. Stainless steel is also the dominating façade material on the upper sections of the building, and it is used in indoor cladding.
The contract for the façade, roof constructions, and some indoor wall structures was awarded to Josef Gartner GmbH of Germany, a company with an extensive track record of customized steel and aluminum curtain walls worldwide. Josef Gartner selected Outokumpu as the stainless steel supplier on the basis of long-term good relations with the stainless company and Outokumpu’s long experience in the architecture sector. Victor Merenda, former Project Manager at Josef Gartner (recently retired), comments on their cooperation with Outokumpu, “We were absolutely satisfied with Outokumpu’s performance. Outokumpu met our expectations. We received the material in the right condition, and at the right place and time.”
Outokumpu’s supply for BMW Welt comprised approximately 500 tons of stainless coil and sheet. Most of the total, used on the exterior surfaces, is in grade EN 1.4404 (ASTM 316L). This highly alloyed austenitic grade provides adequate corrosion resistance in Munich’s inland atmospheric conditions. EN 1.4301 (ASTM 304), providing good resistance to atmospheric corrosion in milder conditions, was used in indoor cladding. All material was delivered in the 2B surface-finish condition. It was shotblasted prior to fabrication into cladding elements by Josef Gartner. |