April 2001 - Nr. 4
Emotional encounter: Auto City
Volkswagen’s international communications platform to become tourist
attraction
DZT - Never before has an automobile company done something
like this:
Volkswagen invested around 850 million marks to create a world forum of
"automobility" – Auto City – on a 62–acre space at its
headquarters in Wolfsburg.
This project, unique in the world, was completed with only two years’ building time and makes it possible for visitors to discover the most modern technology and information about the automobile in a totally new form.
The fascination of technology
Two glass Auto Towers standing 158 feet high are the imposing emblem of Auto City. They are part of an ensemble made up of a Trademark Pavilion, Customer Centre, Concern Forum and Time House that invite visitors on an informative and enjoyable discovery trip into the many-faceted world of the automobile.
Auto City expects about a million visitors each year –
served by some 1,100 employees with the motto "VIP Status for Every
Guest."
The basis for these high expectations is people’s fondness for travel and
curiosity and the fascination of automobile technology as well as the
backdrop of cityscape and landscape.
Auto City is situated in its own quarter in the northeast of Wolfsburg, with large buildings and pavilions, with bridged waterways, lakes, points of land, hills and green spaces.
Gastronomic world
Another reason for the big expectations is the well-known gastronomic partner Auto City has acquired. Six restaurants, all managed by Mövenpick, provide opportunities for delightful gourmet breaks. International designers created the restaurants, which will offer guests worlds of experience far different from conventional restaurant interiors.
Those who wish to spend the night at Auto City, which is like a park with many streams, can let themselves be pampered on a five-star level at "The Ritz Carlton, Wolfsburg." The six-story building, shaped like an open ring, was designed by Gunter Henn, who also served as master planner of Auto City. It was decorated by the Paris interior decorator Andrée Putman.
By ship to Auto City
The cleverly-produced leisure mood of Auto City is enhanced
by the beach-like slope to the water.
Leisure-time captains find bollards for docking – the journey can be made
not only by rail or road, but also along the waterway of the Mittelland
Canal. A central dock is directly in front of the piazza of the Concern
Forum, but the usual entry is by way of the new City Bridge.
Automobile history artistically staged
Once the visitor arrives at Auto City, he is greeted by
impressive automobile history, fascinating presentations of the concern’s
brands and a high-quality art concept.
It comprises four different positions of contemporary aesthetics, and in the
Hotel Ritz Carlton a small gallery features 600 works from the international
contemporary art scene.
Art in short-film format – the concept came from the pen of a well-known script writer and author – emotionally translates the four central values of the Volkswagen concern – safety, social competence, quality and environmental consciousness.
Auto City is open daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m. from June 15 to Oct. 31, and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. from Nov. 1.
Information: Autostadt GmbH, Stadtbrücke, D-38440 Wolfsburg. Tel. 800-288678238. Fax 329288678238. Internet: www.autostadt.de ravel )
