Porsche gets its own pavilion at Autostadt

From AB




Porsche inaugurates Autostadt Pavilion in Wolfsburg
Impressive brand experience covering 1,400 square metres

Stuttgart/Wolfsburg. Today, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG inaugurated
its new pavilion in Wolfsburg's Autostadt. The sports car
manufacturer's new exhibition building sports a curved and gleaming
matt roof design, inspired by the silhouette of a Porsche 911. In
addition to 200 invited guests, the inaugural ceremony was attended by
Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, and
Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of
Volkswagen AG respectively, Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the
Supervisory Board of Porsche, Volkswagen Supervisory Board members
Ursula and Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, and Otto F. Wachs, Autostadt's
Chief Executive Officer.

"With its extraordinary design, this building is one of a kind.
This new building also possesses a symbolic and historic dimension,
evoking as it does the common ties that have closely bound Porsche and
Volkswagen from the outset and will continue to do so in future,"
said Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Porsche AG.

Otto F Wachs, Chief Executive Officer of Autostadt, said: "As the
leading global automotive destination and communication platform for
the Volkswagen Group, we support the Group's development and provide
our guests insights into its brands, values and philosophy. The
building of the Porsche pavilion marks the opening of a new chapter in
Autostadt history – certainly not the last."

Last October, Matthias Müller and Otto F. Wachs joined in laying the
foundation stone of the new exhibition area. Within approximately ten
months, close collaboration between Porsche and Autostadt, in
conjunction with architectural practices Henn Architekten
(architecture), HG Marz Architekten (presentation) and WES &
Partner Architekten (landscaping), has created an edifice that is
becoming an attention-getter in the park and lakeland setting,
primarily on the strength of its innovative design. Emulating
Porsche's long tradition of lightweight design, the monocoque
construction (French: "single shell") employed the
"surface-active structure" principle: the stainless steel
roof structure is a self-supporting shell shaping the space within,
the statics of the pavilion being relegated to the background.

Inside, curves focus the visitors' attention on the exhibition: centre
stage of the pavilion is occupied by 25 vehicle models that take
visitors on a journey through the development of the sports car brand.
Starting with the 1948 vintage Porsche 356, Porsche is putting on a
show of 1:3 scale Porsche models, from the earliest model lines to
three current Zuffenhausen sports cars. Thematic films, audio
histories and media installations provide additional insights into the
brand values and philosophy of the emotional sports car brand.

Automotive theme park guests at the inauguration of the pavilion will
encounter Porsche in other areas as well. Vintage car fans can look
forward to special classic car models in the glass cases throughout
the park. Younger sports car fans also have the opportunity to take
their children's driving licence test in one of two electric Porsches.
Moreover, workshop participants from schools and vocational colleges
will, under supervision, restore an old Porsche Super 308 tractor – a
witness to Porsche's history, when Zuffenhausen's product range
encompassed not only sports cars but tractors as well.
 
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