The spectacular BMW World


Whatever BMW does, it does in style!

The iconic carmaker's exhibition centre, called the BMW Welt or BMW World, provides an awe-inspiring experience for customers and helps the company display its offerings in a dreamlike, almost other worldly, setting.

It sits cheek by jowl to the BMW headquarters in Munich, Germany.


The magnificent building was designed by architects Coop Himmelb(l)au for the BMW Group.

As many as 275 architecture firms submitted tenders for the BMW Welt, but in a unanimous decision the winning design was by Professor Wolf D Prix and the Viennese architecture firm Coop Himmelb(l)au.

After 800,000 hours of planning, and 120 architects and engineers collaborating to prepare 15,000 plans, the Munich Olympic Car Park was demolished on August 1, 2003 to make space for the construction of BMW (Welt) World.

On July 16, 2004 the first stone was set, and the final interior touches were given in June 2007. BMW Welt was open to the public in October.

The BMW Welt is located at the exact site where the company has had its base for 90 years: on the Oberwiesenfeld in Milbertshofen, right beside the BMW Group headquarters, which is a 4-cylinder building, and the BMW Museum.

In early 20th century, Oberwiesenfeld was used as an airstrip and two aviation pioneers founded their companies here. Gustav Otto founded Flugmaschinenfabrik (Flight Machine Factory) and Karl Rapp founded Motorenwerk (Motor Works).

In 1917, the two companies merged to form the Bayerische Motoren Werke (Bavarian Motor Works, or BMW).

The building has a huge solar power plant on its roof, lending it a futuristic, green look.

In addition to the various presentations, multi-media displays and exhibits about BMW cars and motorcycles, the main function of BMW World is to serve as a highly personalised delivery point of new cars to their owners.


The Plaza within the BMW Welt is the ideal starting point for touring all parts of the building and provides an overview of the very unusual architecture and the various areas within this unique achievement in modern design and engineering.

Directly next to the Northern Entrance the presentation of BMW cars starts at the right, with cars from all current model series being presented in the BMW Welt.

The Bistro is to the left, the Junior Campus a few steps further on to the right. The latter is a special encounter and event area for children and young people between 7 and 13.

BMW Welt Technology and Design Studio is where the enthusiast wishing to experience BMW's art of engineering and design will receive a comprehensive insight into new developments, enjoying interesting exhibitions and interactive exhibits.

The BMW Lifestyle & Original Accessories Shop within the BMW Welt is just a few metres behind the Junior Campus.

Here, aficionados of the brand, sophisticated accessories or Formula 1 will find a unique range of equally unique products.

And this is also where the customer picking up a new car is able to buy accessories on the spur of the moment, such as a roof rack for bicycles or child seats fitted into the car right on the spot.

The Double Cone structure of the BMW World serves as the ideal venue for exclusive cultural events.

The Premiere Level, the very heart of the Car Delivery Centre, is right in the middle of the BMW Welt, directly above the Technology and Design Studio.

BMW Munich Plant builds more than 800 BMW 3 Series (Touring and Saloon models) as well as more than 1,250 power units (straight-six, eight-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines, high-performance M-engines for the M3, M5, and M6, as well as twelve-cylinder gasoline and hydrogen engines) a day.

The BMW Welt is open to public from 9.00 in the morning to 8.00 in the evening.

Car buyers can collect their new automobiles at the BMW Welt from Mondays through Saturdays, as early as at 7.00 in the morning. However, customers cannot take delivery of new automobiles on Sundays or public holidays.

LETTING NATURE BEA PART OF YOUR LIVING

Architects are going back to the nature’s drawing board to explore and design bionic buildings.

AFTER getting bored with the traditional rectangular format of buildings, architects have started taking design cues from biological structures and from the natural world. Hats off to these genius architects who designed some of the most unique buildings out there — the designs are based on intricate mathematical and biological calculations. And without further ado, here’s a look at some of the most incredible examples of bionic architecture in the world.


The Anti-smog building

The Anti-smog building is one of the projects by Vincent Callebaut, a young French architect. It’s a mixed-use building, erected over abandoned railroad tracks in Paris and is now a useful recycled energy resource.


ECOMIC, Mexico City 2007, Mexico


The prototype uses green technology that is setting an example of sustainable design. The titanium dioxide coating produces in-site electrical energy and reduces air contaminants. The Ascent at Roebling Bridge building in Kentucky, US is constructed by Daniel Libeskind.


ECOMIC, Mexico City 2007, Mexico


This building isn’t of quite such historic importance, but it reflects the architect’s goals in relation to bionic architecture. The natural tones of the building were specifically chosen to reflect the earth and the sky of the area.


ECOMIC, Mexico City 2007, Mexico


The award winning National Space Centre in Leicester is UK’s largest attraction dedicated to space. The Space Centre is designed to look like a futuristic Rocket Tower. The City Hall in London is constructed to represent and inspire the forward motion of the democratic process in London.


Lilypad, a floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees, Oceans 2008, World


It is a mostly non-polluting building that is constructed of sustainable material. Turning Torso is the tallest building in Scandinavia and was created by Santiago Calatrava, an architect who has got flak from people who say that his designs are not realistic. Selfridges Building in Birmingham is designed by architect Jan Kaplicky.


Lilypad, a floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees, Oceans 2008, World

The building features a curvaceous space-age design that epitomises what the aesthetic goal of bionic architecture is all about. The curvaceous new store is covered with a dramatic ‘skin’ made up of 15,000 spun aluminium.


Lilypad, a floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees, Oceans 2008, World

Urban Cactus in Rotterdam is a 19-storey residential building whose shape is inspired by an irregular pattern of outdoor spaces. The housing project will accommodate 98 residential units.


Lilypad, a floating Ecopolis for Climate Refugees, Oceans 2008, World

Emaar water spectacle


Emaar Properties plans to build one of the largest fountains in the world as the centrepiece of its Downtown Burj Dubai project. Arabian Business reveals what the real estate giant has in store.


The fountain, which has yet to be named, will be capable of shooting water over 150 metres into the air - the height of a 50-storey building - and stretch over 275 metres - the length of two football fields.


The $218 million project will be 25 percent larger than the iconic fountains at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.


Like the Fountains of Bellagio, Emaar's fountains will include an integral light and sound show and is expected to become one of Dubai's major tourist attractions, drawing over 10 million visitors per year.


The fountains will shoot 22,000 gallons of water in the air at any given moment and feature over 6,600 lights and 50 colour projectors.

The fountains have yet to be named and a cash prize of $27,225 has been assigned to the winner of a competition to name the water feature.

The structure is scheduled to be operational by 2009.


Modern and Contemporary Beds

I’ve decided to post a new collection of pictures with bedroom inspiration, and how modern and contemporary pieces are my favorites, this post is about modern and contemporary bedroom ideas. If you’re not sure how you want your new bedroom to look analyze these pictures, by looking at beds, chests, nightstands, media units, tv stands, dressers, … and maybe you’ll get a few ideas. These pictures are from a new collection from Casa Vida, a collection that combines clean lines, modern metal accents and quality finishes. Enjoy !