Gallery ︎︎︎
BMW’s Urban Production
Redefine, reconnect, rethink“Our design for BMW's urban production hub in Munich seamlessly integrates cutting-edge manufacturing with vibrant green spaces, crafting a dynamic urban ecosystem that melds production, nature, and community into a sustainable, seamless environment.”
Sonja Berthold, principal and cofounder
The aim BMW’s urban production hub in Munich with around 7.800 employees redefines the relationship between industry and city, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge manufacturing within a vibrant urban ecosystem.
Our design transforms the once isolated factory into a permeable landscape, where production lines are interwoven with generous green spaces and public paths, creating an inviting and accessible environment for both employees and visitors.
The factory floor, traditionally isolated, is now visible to the public, allowing visitors to follow the assembly process via a generous ramp that winds through the space. Employees benefit from lush green courtyards and roof terraces, offering natural environments that evolve with the seasons, providing spaces to relax, connect, and recharge amidst their workday.
The roofscape becomes a living extension of the city, a verdant mountain of activity, and a 40 ha green sanctuary featuring sports fields, garden areas, and even spaces for BMW exhibitions or food production for the factory’s internal canteen. By transforming unused roofs into vibrant spaces for both work and play, the design enhances biodiversity and promotes ecological stewardship. The entire site is linked to the surrounding neighbourhoods through new paths and green corridors, turning the factory from an industrial island into a vital part of Munich’s urban ecosystem.
This approach not only fosters community and collaboration but also reimagines how urban production can adapt to future needs, creating a flexible, sustainable framework for generations to come. By harmonising innovation, nature, and public space, BMW’s new production hub in Munich exemplifies a forward-thinking model for industrial architecture in the 21st century.
Munich, Germany - Invited competition, 4th prize
Landscape Architecture: USUS, Zurich, Switzerland
Climate Engineering: HL-Technik, Munich, Germany
Traffic and Mobility: ERVECO, Basel, Switzerland
Visualisations: Plomp, Amsterdam, The Netherlands