Conveniently located near the A44, Volvo Centre Rhein-Ruhr in Witten-Annen represents the Swedish manufacturer's largest dealership in Germany—and notably, the third largest of its kind across Europe. The challenge was to usher this landmark into a new era. Düsseldorf's agh architekten completely reconceived the interior of this fully glazed structure, distinguished by its striking curved ends, bringing it into perfect alignment with Volvo's corporate identity.

"More living room than dealership"—this vision guided Fahrzeugwerke Lueg AG's complete renovation of the 1,500 m² flagship building, designed to welcome visitors both on foot and by car across its two levels. The structure, originally erected in the late 1990s for a different automotive brand, was fundamentally industrial in character: exposed structural elements dominated the interior, walls remained largely utilitarian, and the overall atmosphere felt austere and impersonal. The redesign introduced a refined sense of calm through deliberate contrasts and cohesive surfaces. Against visually understated dark elements—structural supports and ceiling elements—the new, luminous offices and meeting rooms on the lower floor command immediate attention. This minimalist aesthetic is enriched by warm, natural materials that define the customer lounge and integrated café. Above, the new vehicle showroom on the upper level surrounds each car with carefully selected natural materials: warm wood tones and tactile textile finishes create an inviting environment. The existing structure presented an unexpected design puzzle. Oriented to the east with an inserted mezzanine-style floor slab, a significant air cavity existed between this intermediate floor and the soaring two-story glass façade—originally housing the staircase. Here, a new conference room needed to find its place. To resolve this challenge while addressing acoustic requirements, the architects conceived an ingenious solution: a custom "curved furniture element" designed to fit precisely within this irregular void.

Following meticulous 3D surveying, the sculptural furniture piece was CNC-fabricated, precision-cut, and assembled on-site from individual components—an impressive continuous form measuring up to 10.40 metres in diameter and spanning over 18 metres in length. Integrated display niches and a seating area complete the newly realized executive lounge with refined elegance. The service workshops, by contrast, embrace a refined minimalist aesthetic—focused squarely on quality and precision. Drawing on Volvo's proprietary furniture and lighting systems, the space has been transformed into a true technical hub, where automotive excellence takes center stage.

www.agh-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Marcel Adamczak

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 04|23)