BMW Hubaer
Landshut, Germany |Shop
Photos: Heiko Siegl
Project Description
The spacious hall at BMW Hubauer remains perceptible as a coherent volume, while light introduces different scales within it. Vehicle presentation, service, consultation and lounge areas are not separated by enclosed spaces, but differentiated within the open architecture through distinct lighting characters.
Directed light focuses attention on the vehicles, while linear lighting structures organise the large distances and create spatial depth. On paintwork, glass and metallic surfaces, lines of light and reflections become part of the presentation itself, emphasising the contours and proportions of the vehicles.
Above the service, consultation and lounge areas, the lighting effect changes. Pendant luminaires positioned at different heights lower the perceptual level within the high hall and create clearly defined zones for communication and relaxation.
In this way, light mediates between the scale of the architecture, the different uses and the vehicles on display. The dark technical ceiling remains present as a background, while different layers of light and perception structure the open showroom below.
Project Information
Architecture Type: Large, open automotive showroom with a high technical ceiling and areas for vehicle presentation, service, consultation, lounge and customer use.
Lighting Concept & Design Approach: The lighting design differentiates the various uses within the continuous hall volume through distinct lighting characters and perceptual levels. Directed and linear light support vehicle presentation and spatial organisation, while lower-positioned pendant luminaires bring the service, consultation and lounge areas to a more human scale.
Luminaire Integration: A combination of directed spotlights integrated into the dark technical ceiling, linear lighting systems, pendant luminaires positioned at different heights, and integrated lines of light in furniture and counters. Depending on their function, the lighting systems alternate between restrained technical integration and deliberately visible, space-defining lighting objects.
Spatial Effect: Different layers of light and perception structure the open hall without diminishing its spaciousness. Reflections on paintwork, glass and metallic vehicle surfaces enhance the perception of contours and proportions, while lower-positioned lighting objects spatially define the service, consultation and lounge areas.
Questions about Lighting Design in Car Dealerships and Showrooms
- How can light structure a large open car showroom into different areas?
Different uses can be distinguished through individual lighting characters and lighting levels without physically separating them. At BMW Hubauer, vehicle presentation, service, consultation and lounge areas each receive lighting focal points tailored to their respective functions within the shared hall.
- What role do light reflections play in vehicle presentation
Glossy paintwork, glass and metallic surfaces reflect lines and points of light, making the contours and curves of the vehicle body visible. The lighting effect therefore occurs not only around the vehicle but directly on its surface, becoming part of the product presentation itself.
- How can pendant luminaires create a more human scale within a high hall?
Lower-positioned pendant luminaires create a second perceptual level beneath the high technical ceiling of the hall. Above consultation areas, service zones and seating groups, they can form smaller spatial units and relate the lighting more directly to the immediate use.
- How can different lighting characters distinguish functional areas within an open hall?
Vehicle presentation, service, consultation and lounge areas do not require enclosed spaces in order to be perceived as distinct zones. At BMW Hubauer, directed light, linear structures and pendant luminaires positioned at different heights support the respective functions and create clearly distinguishable perceptual zones within the shared hall volume.
- How can linear lighting systems enhance the spatial depth of a large showroom?
Recurring linear luminaires can follow sightlines and structure large distances within a hall. Their perspectival sequence reinforces spatial depth and creates an overarching order between the individual presentation and functional areas.
- Why can a dark technical ceiling be beneficial to the lighting effect of a showroom?
A dark ceiling plane allows technical installations, tracks and spotlights to visually recede into the background. This focuses attention more strongly on the illuminated vehicles, visible lighting objects and the functional areas below.
