The Henning Larsen-designed World of Volvo has opened in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Housed under an expressive timber canopy, the 237,000-square-foot building will serve as an experience center for the car brand Volvo, designed around “Scandinavian values of freedom of movement, access to nature, and openness and inclusion.”
The main timber structure is formed of glulam and cross-laminated timber, designed as three tree-trunk-like columns that fan out to carry the entire load of the roof while “enveloping visitors in a welcoming forest-like canopy.” The center’s round structure is intended to encourage visitors to create their own journeys through the building’s interior and exterior.
Inside, a series of spaces are contained to host cultural events, talks, and conferences, accommodating up to 1,100 people. Anchoring the structure is a 485,000-square-foot exhibition space that brings visitors on a journey through Volvo’s history, present innovations, and future visions, featuring “iconic vehicles, immersive stories, and interactive displays.”
“As a brand, Volvo is rooted in a Swedish pride for producing and manufacturing quality for everyone,” said Martin Stenberg Ringnér, Associate Design Director, Henning Larsen about the project. “This is spotlighted and celebrated at World of Volvo, and we are so proud to see the building come to life and welcome its first visitors on the same day as Volvo’s birthday celebrations.”
News of the scheme comes one month after Henning Larsen unveiled Open Detail, a digital biomaterials resource for architects. Earlier in 2024, meanwhile, the firm won a competition for a circular timber campus building at CERN.
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Gah...I'll take 1 of each please!
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