Mercedes-Benz Museum

Mercedes-Benz begins its story with the invention of the automobile in 1886, but the Stuttgart museum is anything but nostalgic. Opened in 2006, it turns more than a century of engineering, design and motorsport into a remarkably coherent visit.

Across nine levels and 16,500 square metres of exhibition space, around 160 vehicles sit among more than 1,500 exhibits. Early automobiles, commercial vehicles, racing cars and record breakers are placed within a broader story of how mobility changed everyday life.

The architecture matters just as much. UNStudio designed the museum around a trefoil geometry and two interlocking routes. A lift takes you to the top; from there you work your way down rather than trudging through a conventional sequence of rooms. Seven Legend rooms tell the story chronologically, while five Collection rooms group vehicles thematically.

Even if your relationship with cars is largely functional, the building gives the museum enough architectural interest to justify the detour. Car devotees simply get the better end of the bargain.