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Volkswagen unveils daring all-glass assembly plant in Dresden

VW's newest plant aims for total transparency and ultimate worker comfort

Volkswagen has unveiled a daring project for an all-glass assembly plant in Dresden as the luxury birthing room for a new, top-of-the-line model which is due to ship by September 2000.

The automotive manufacturer calls the project 'a symbol of the future'; its glass walls are intended to underline the idea of transparency by encouraging passers-by to peer in. Customers will even be invited to Dresden to see their vehicles being built as part of packages including a city break. By night, the building will be attractively floodlit.

TRANSPARENT SHOWCASE

The ground-breaking 'factory of glass' was designed by Henn Architekten, Germany. An architect from the firm told LGN: "The project uses laminated glass throughout, from the outer façade of the L-shaped main building to balustrades in the central design courtyard and a 40-meter high, cylindrical glass tower which will act as a showcase for completed models".

"We want the plant to reveal the high quality assembly techniques used for VW's new, luxury model to both customers and the community – and that means total transparency. We conceived the laminated glass facade as having the effect of a curtain drawn back, an unveiling".

LUXURY SETTING FOR WORKERS

"Another goal was to create a revolutionary environment for plant employees who will benefit both from maximum daylighting and stunning views over a huge park while they work. Since many of the finishing procedures completed at the plant are noiseless, we wanted the internal workplace to have the feel of a state-of-the-art design studio, rather than a traditional car assembly plant".

"Laminated glass is the only material that allows us to fulfill our design goals while meeting Germany's strict safety regulations. It also enables us to prevent the solar gain and consequent heat build-up inside the plant that such extensive use of glass would otherwise entail."