J. Mayer H. Architects and Art + Com Berlin were commissioned to design a permanent exhibition to highlight the topic of sustainability for the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany. The 1,000 m² exhibit design, entitled Level Green, creates a complex webbed form that slowly reveals information to users. The exhibition material argues for scientific research and the use of latest technological development as necessities for survival in the future.
More about the exhibit and more images after the break.
The complexity of the term sustainability inspired the architects to “take the numerous interdependencies of the topic as a starting point and translate this quality into the metaphor of the web”. The PET-sign, arguably one of the most identifiable signs promoting eco-friendliness, served as the basis for the metaphor’s form. An “extensively branched web” creates an ambiguous experience where visitors discover the different sections of the exhibit by moving through and around this form. “This originally 2-dimensional sign was extended into the third dimension and through a series of step by step manipulations a complex structure was created, which allows for an abstract property of the topic to be experienced on a spatial level.”
The form is created with processed wood composite sheets (MDF) varying in thickness according to the structural and geometrical demands. The MDF is coated with an acrylic-based car paint which guarantees high usability while meeting strict environmental regulations.
The information in the exhibit is displayed in different formats to evoke visitors’ interests and provide knowledge “on a more sensational level”. Touch sensitive surfaces provide in-depth explanations on different topics, while statistical data is arranged as “data sculptures or sample objects”. The information is seamlessly integrated into the vertical elements which define different areas within the space.
As seen on Bustler. Photo credit: Uwe Walter
Client: Autostadt GmbH, Wolfsburg Site: Volkswagen GroupForum, 1st Floor, Autostadt, Wolfsburg Architect: J. MAYER H. Architects, Berlin