Wack Group corporate showroom wins German Design Award

Garamantis was honoured with the German Design Award 2026 in the ‘Excellent Architecture – Interior Architecture/Public’ category. This award recognises the futuristic showroom of the Wack Group near Ingolstadt. Showcasing a new combination of physical material, light and digital interaction, it features the world’s first 3-layer display.

A project that combines experimentation and engineering

In just twelve months, a 100 m² showroom was created that translates the precision of the Wack Group into a tangible, spatial form. The space is located on the ground floor of the new company headquarters. It is glazed on the inside and outside. This transparency was part of the concept: the inner workings should be visible, and the theme of chemical precision cleaning should be tangible. Initially, simple air bubbles rose in a glass of water. These initial experiments gradually evolved into a brand new display technology.

Semi-transparent, three-layer display

In the centre of the room, three free-standing steles rise up to the ceiling. These combine physical and digital layers to create a constantly changing image space. Inside the steles, a stream of air bubbles rises in clear glycerine, precisely controlled by valves. Behind this first layer is a transparent LED film. This film projects colours and shapes onto the movement of the bubbles, illuminating the action inside. The final layer is a touch panel in front of the display that visitors can use to interact directly with the content and bring the display to life.
The result is a display that is simultaneously an object, an interface, and a light installation. Its appearance changes continuously depending on movement, viewing angle and interaction.

Space as a holistic narrative surface

The three displays form part of an integrated space comprising various interactive stations. These include a large projection wall, an analysis station with extendable modules, and a movable history wall. A dedicated control system connects all components and detects movements in the room. It adapts the content for different target groups. This transforms a technically complex system into intuitive, precise staging, combining design, technology and brand.

Design is tailored to a specific narrative

“It was a long development process, from the initial experiments with air bubbles to the final display,” says Garamantis founder Oliver Elias. “This combination of display layers is unique. It only works where it fits with the company’s corporate identity.’

The project’s significance lies in the fact that physical spaces remain the most effective medium for conveying complex content, even in the digital age.