SAAB Autocentre

About object:

Car sale centres actually embody two purposes: a commercial and an advertising one. Therefore, when creating a building of this purpose, not only functional structure of internal premises and comfortable their arrangement is important, but also the symbolism of this building representing a company manufacturing cars – creation of its advertising “face”. For achievement the desired effect of the SAAB auto centre situated in Vilnius City the project authors needed no extravagant elements – minimal means were chosen to reflect the Swedish temperance: a clear volume and laconic façade tectonics. Combining frameless transparent and opaque glass with metal panels in façade decoration, the functional plan of the object as well as the urban context was also considered. The main entrance is emphasized by a sharp angle naturally dictated by the shape of a land plot. As may be seen from the outside, one straightly gets to a two-level exposition hall of new cars, which is surrounded by the vitreous façade, as if encoding openness to environment in itself. The unit of service premises – conversely – is adequately closed, covered with the metal panels.

I. Garnytė- Sapranavičienė