Volkswagen Autostadt Roof

Inspired by the form of a leaf resting on the ground, the sculptural roof at the Autostadt Customer Center in Wolfsburg combines an organic architectural form with a substantial steel structure. The canopy creates a sheltered yet open environment where visitors can explore automotive technologies while remaining connected to the surrounding landscape and natural light.

Despite its visually lightweight appearance, the roof is a large-scale steel construction supported by only two concrete foundations anchored approximately 20 meters into the ground. Its complex three-dimensional form required individually shaped components to create the continuously curving surface.

CIG was responsible for the engineering and production of the complete steel ring roof package. The production scope included developing production information from the approved 3D model, material procurement, cutting, sorting, and 3D cold forming of the steel plates. The structure incorporated approximately 728 square meters of steel plate, with plate thicknesses ranging from 10 to 50 mm and an estimated net weight of around 114 tonnes.

In total, approximately 170 individual steel parts were produced for the roof structure. The components were manufactured from S355 structural steel, with the complex plates 3D cold formed to the required shapes before delivery to Germany for further assembly.