BMW Headquarters

The BMW Headquarters (German: BMW-Vierzylinder; English: "BMW four-cylinder"; also known as the BMW HQ or BMW Tower; German: BMW Hochhaus) is a high-rise building located in Munich's district Am Riesenfeld, serving as world headquarters for the German automaker BMW since 1973. It was declared a protected historic building in 1999, and is often cited as one of the most notable examples of architecture in Munich. Extensive renovations commenced in 2004 and were completed in 2006.

BMW Headquarters
Bavarian Motor Works
Alternative namesBMW Tower
BMW Hochhaus
Vierzylinder
General information
LocationPetuelring 130
Munich, Germany
Coordinates48°10′37″N 11°33′36″E
Construction started1968
Completed1972
Opening1973
Height
Roof101 m (331 ft)
Technical details
Floor count22
Floor area72,000 m2 (780,000 sq ft)
Design and construction
ArchitectKarl Schwanzer
References
[1][2][3]

Concept and construction

The Tower was built between 1968 and 1972 and was ready in time for 1972 Summer Olympics. Its inauguration followed on 18 May 1973. The 101-metre (331 ft) building is located next the Olympiapark and BMW's main factory. The tower's exterior is supposed to mimic the shape of four cylinders in a car engine, with the Museum representing a cylinder head. Both buildings were designed by the Austrian architect Karl Schwanzer.[4]

The Tower consists of four vertical cylinders standing next to and across from each other. Each cylinder is divided horizontally in its center by a mold in the facade. Notably, these cylinders do not stand on the ground; they are suspended on a central support tower. During the construction, individual floors were assembled on the ground and then elevated. The tower has a diameter of 52.30 metres (171.6 ft) and it has 22 occupied floors, two of which are basements and 18 serve as office space.

BMW campus

The BMW Museum is located right next to the tower while BMW Welt, which showcases the current cars of BMW and acts as a distribution centre, opened on the opposite side of the road on 17 October 2007.

During the 1972 Summer Olympics BMW branding was removed from the buildings to prevent product placement. BMW badging was also removed from the 2002 sedans, which accompanied Olympic marathon runners during the competition. The branding was removed again for the building's cameo appearance in the 1975 film Rollerball, replaced by large orange circles, meant to stand for the fictional ruling Energy Corporation of the future.

The building also made an appearance in the 1977 horror film Suspiria.

See also

References
  1. BMW Headquarters at Emporis
  2. "BMW Headquarters". SkyscraperPage.
  3. BMW Headquarters at Structurae
  4. Karl Schwanzer at archINFORM
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