Location: Halle (Westfalia), Germany.

Architect: Architekten Wannenmacher + Möller GmbH.

Ford Hagemeier, a car dealership in Halle, has expanded its exhibition area by constructing a new vehicle hall. The new structure is designed to present both commercial vehicles and cars from the range of Ford products, with a focus on families, older persons, and bargain hunters. The old vehicle hall will be converted into a performance centre for sports-oriented vehicles. The client wanted the architecture of the buildings to reflect the different target customers, with the new vehicle hall having a warm atmosphere with the use of wood, while the old building has a more technical appearance. The new building includes a small workshop, two sales offices, a bar, a large meeting room, and a room to withdraw to. The two-storey structure made entirely of wood is positioned in the centre of the hall and divides the vehicle hall into areas of different proportions, producing an exciting series of spaces that enrich the sensory experience. The façade on the building onto the main road and towards the access road has been fitted with a transparent or translucent outer skin, using glass and polycarbonates, which allows the new vehicle hall to light up during the hours of darkness and attract the attention of passers-by. At the rear, the lower half of the façade is clad with structured concrete, which creates an exciting contrast to the smooth polycarbonate shell on the upper area. The new building is located next to a small forest that borders the back section of the company land and is behind the large outdoor space for vehicles, making it not immediately visible, particularly in the evenings.

Photo credit: Csaba Mester.