The “Brand World” forms the new gateway to STIHL’s Plant 1 in Waiblingen. Located directly on the River Rems, this is the headquarters of STIHL, now a global company. The site originally housed a product presentation center in a simple hall-like structure. The new Brand World is built on its basement level. The design of the new Brand World is based on a building volume that appears to have been symbolically sawn apart by angled cuts. This sculptural appearance subtly references the client’s world-famous products. The building accommodates exhibition, conference, and office spaces. The large longitudinal cut through the building opens up a central access route and guides visitors into the exhibition.
ProjectSTIHL Brand World
LocationBadstraße 115, 71336 Waiblingen
ClientANDREAS STIHL AG & Co.KG
StatusCompleted
BGFca. 16.360 m² | BRIca. 82.300 m³ |
GeneralplanungBFK plan |
PhotographyBrígida González
Beispielhaftes Bauen Rems-Murr-Kreis 2025The exhibition areas extend across three levels. Suspended from three load-bearing concrete elements, they appear to float freely without columns. Visitors can explore the exhibition from top to bottom, with topics ranging from the company’s history to its products. On the ground floor, the exhibition focuses on the forest. Here, the dialogue between the exhibition and the architecture becomes particularly clear. Large glazed areas offer views of the wooded banks of the River Rems flowing past the building. The facilities are complemented by a brand shop, a café, a conference center, and flexible-use spaces.
The suspended, ventilated façade, finished in patinated brass, integrates the building into the natural surroundings of the narrow valley. The design and materials of the Brand World are echoed in the second new building on the opposite side of the high-rise. This building contains office spaces on the upper floors and the new staff restaurant on the ground floor.
The ensemble of the two new buildings is complemented by the existing high-rise, built in the 1970s, which has been extensively renovated. Modern workstations, meeting rooms, and communal areas have been created across six floors. A representative foyer welcomes employees and visitors. The façade of the high-rise is characterized by vertical fins that echo the color and materials of the Brand World. Depending on the viewer’s position and angle, the fins move into the foreground or recede into the background. In this way, the high-rise contrasts with the Brand World and the staff restaurant, each of which has its own distinct identity, while also becoming a natural part of the overall ensemble. The high-rise façade is fitted with electrochromic glass, eliminating the need for external solar shading.












