BMW’s iconic HQ celebrates 50 years

BMW’s headquarters in Munich, Germany, celebrates 50 years since being built, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the car-marker’s ‘M’ division.

The Bavarian brand celebrated the half century anniversary with a dramatic aerial dance performance, using the façade of its HQ building as a makeshift stage, for more than 200 international guests.

The 12 dancers were suspended 100-metres in the air, as the ensemble of the American dance project BANDALOOP created a weightless synthesis of the arts in the “interplay of architecture and dance”.

Back in August, 1972, the BMW Group headquarters were completed, setting a new standard for modern office architecture.

The cylindrical shapes made the building an instant landmark, with global appeal, and this was no accident.

In 1968 BMW ran a design competition for the building, at a time of rapid growth for company, inviting eight renowned architects to offer their design visions.

The two shortlisted designs consisted of a conventional ‘disc high-rise’ and Karl Schwanzer’s suspended ‘four-cylinder’ design that came to be built.

Today the building is home to around 1,500 BMW Group employees and remains modern thanks to a complete renovation in 2004.