I've always had a fondness for Porsche, especially the Porsche 911. I saw something at the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany, that shows the business may have toned down its aggressive, ambitious approach. Porsche has always prioritized elegance, austerity, and excellent racing technology. However, the museum appears to exude a sort of understatement, which is unusual for a brand that has always prided itself on its daring and aggressive design aspects.
Somehow, I'm beginning to think that everything in the world has to show modesty in one area to compensate for when it shows boldness in another. That explains their museum, which was completed in 2009 and designed by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects. Where Porsche exudes the daring art in their cars, it compensates for moderation in their architectural solutions.
The architects' conceptual drawings were designed to mirror Porsche's adaptability, which they did. The interiors are unremarkable save for the various display and exhibition methods that have been incorporated into the idea that this museum will serve more than simply as a museum. The sense of drive and speed that the visitor associates with Porsche is reflected in the spatial arrangement and building structure.
The architects employed experience and the chance to experience as fundamental design considerations, allowing them to structure the space as an open and clearly defined area that exudes Porsche's brand values. The shape of the building and the interior provide nothing but contrast. The inside and exterior of the building are diametrically opposed, just as the architectural solution and the Porsche brand are.
The design includes approximately 80 chronologically arranged car exhibits. The majority of the vehicle exhibits will be changed on a regular basis with other historical Porsche automobiles that can be driven around. Aside from the exhibition area of roughly 5,600 square meters, the museum will also house the company's production and media archives, as well as a 3,000-book library, conference facilities, a store, and a cafeteria.
Located at the intersection of two main roads in Germany, the building communicates to passers-by that the urban landscape is linked to the company's corporate approach to this architectural solution.
However, if we were to move to another planet today and were to transport all of the buildings, the Porsche Museum would have to be wrapped in newspaper padding before transit. This structure was constructed outside first, then inside, which makes the interiors pretty uninteresting, yet the variances clearly compensate for one another, and as seen in the model, it's a good attempt at defying gravity.
If you're curious to witness culture merge with nature, check out the Palestine Museum by Heneghan Peng.
Project Information
Architects:
Delugan Meissl Associated Architects
Location: Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Germany
GFA: 27,692 sqm
Photographers: Brigida González, Hertha Hurnaus, Iwan Baan
