BMW FIZ Future.

[SCOTT27]

BMW FIZ Future
Munich, DE

The winning entry of the multistage international competition FIZ Future looks at the design of the future master plan and extension of the BMW Research and Innovation Centre (FIZ). People working in a huge variety of specialist fields will need to meet and pool their thoughts to create the innovations of tomorrow.

A central axis accelerates movement and provides an enhanced spatial experience to encourage a greater number of such encounters. All cultures of expertise in automobile construction and mobility are always on view. Towards the edges of the campus, this perception reduces and becomes more focused to allow the various specialist fields and disciplines to further develop their ideas.

This effect also promotes integration with the surrounding urban quarters. Here, the design of the new BMW FIZ opens up to its neighbours with a park, cafés, leisure and sports facilities as well as a civic centre.

 

[Mr Robert]

Impressive!

 

[SF Dede]

As somebody who does real estate development for a living, there is something very crucial missing from these renderings and eye candy. Great that these images show the wonderful interior and exterior buildings of the campus expansion - but where is BMW and what it makes in these images? Where are the cars, and more generically, transportation solutions that BMW and its wonderful innovators create, in these images? No where.

The interior image is the closest, but note importantly, nobody is engaging with the vehicles or robots making the vehicles. They are in the background, deep background, when they should be very much in the foreground. Swap the cars in this image with the "google car" and this could be google anywhere in the world. Honestly, you should care less about a silly bridge with a glass floor with LEDs underneath. Not at all meaningful. That bridge would cost $400 per square foot in the US. So what. How does it nurture innovation.

The person heading up this project should drive the images, not the architects. They only care about the buildings (which dominate the images). I should know. I used to be one.

If I were in management I would demand that I be shown how this wonderful investment in this innovation center is going to facilitate innovation by its design and program. Show me in the images. Show me how architecture will improve BMW's business. Otherwise, no approval from me.

 

[Busty]

^Have you ever been to the FIZ?

The thing is: there are hardly any cars built there, it is not the Munich plant at Petuelring. Rather, it's where the researchers (of various kinds) work. And the designers. The very few cars built there are NOT to be visible.

 

[Giannis]

Do you need any structural engineers, Scott?

 

[SF Dede]

^Have you ever been to the FIZ?

The thing is: there are hardly any cars built there, it is not the Munich plant at Petuelring. Rather, it's where the researchers (of various kinds) work. And the designers. The very few cars built there are NOT to be visible.

Okay, point made, I've never been there. So I did some research online, based on your prompting, and all the images of the existing buildings look like the images above. I don't see design elements which would encourage and collaboration in these renderings as presented. If the renderings are representative of the change then it is a missed opportunity. To me, it looks like a generic corporate campus for a mature company anywhere in the world.

Design and architecture can positively create opportunities for collaboration and interaction between creative people. Do some research online on how architecture can really enhance and promote innovation and you'll see fantastic work and research that demonstrates that the built environment can enhance creativity and productivity - the foundation of innovation. So I hope it is in fact better than these images.

Best of luck to all who will work there and who are working on the project. I hope to hear great things.

 

[jack]

good to know that they are expanding, there are sooo many people there

 

[Busty]

Okay, point made, I've never been there. So I did some research online, based on your prompting, and all the images of the existing buildings look like the images above. I don't see design elements which would encourage and collaboration in these renderings as presented. If the renderings are representative of the change then it is a missed opportunity. To me, it looks like a generic corporate campus for a mature company anywhere in the world.

Design and architecture can positively create opportunities for collaboration and interaction between creative people. Do some research online on how architecture can really enhance and promote innovation and you'll see fantastic work and research that demonstrates that the built environment can enhance creativity and productivity - the foundation of innovation. So I hope it is in fact better than these images.

Best of luck to all who will work there and who are working on the project. I hope to hear great things.

I only pointed to the functions of the FIZ.Whether this proposal is really convincing from a architectural pov I cannot judge yet. Your critical comments may be very justified and seem well-informed.
The only thing I can say that there are quite a few spots in the FIZ that can make use of ANY renovation

 

[SF Dede]

The only thing I can say that there are quite a few spots in the FIZ that can make use of ANY renovation

Well taken. Renovation or reconstruction in a dense environment is very expensive and disruptive.