Mobius-inspired design merges exhibition, wellness, and nature in a forest setting

Completed in 2024, ATRIUM’s Garage for Car Collection transforms the conventional notion of a private garage into a multifunctional architectural statement. Rather than serving solely as a storage space, the 200-square-meter structure operates as a hybrid environment—combining a curated car gallery, fitness facilities, and a venue for business gatherings—within a single sculptural form.

Garage for car collection
Photo credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Set within a wooded private estate originally developed by ATRIUM in the early 2000s, the project extends an existing compound that includes a main residence and guest house. The new addition maintains continuity with the estate’s architectural language while introducing contemporary spatial strategies and material refinement.

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Central to the design is a ribbon-like form inspired by the Möbius strip, which wraps fluidly around the site while preserving all existing trees. This continuous gesture organizes the building’s program across multiple levels. At ground level, a transparent exhibition space showcases the car collection, directly connected to the പ്രവേശ driveway. The structure then rises diagonally to form a rooftop terrace dedicated to outdoor exercise. Below ground, additional volume accommodates a gym and office, illuminated by discreet openings that bring in natural light.

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

The building’s north and south facades feature expansive glazing with ultra-thin profiles, dissolving the boundary between interior and landscape and reinforcing its integration with the surrounding forest. The exterior is clad in seamless white Corian, evoking the smooth, aerodynamic qualities of automotive design, while interior finishes in wood and copper introduce warmth and tactile contrast.

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Functionally, the project operates as a layered spatial system. The ground floor serves as a luminous display space, the upper terrace supports physical activity, and the subterranean level houses wellness and administrative functions. Circulation between these zones is designed to be intuitive and experiential, guided by the building’s sculptural form.

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Built with minimal environmental disruption, the project demonstrates a sensitive approach to construction in ecologically valuable areas. Its compact footprint, underground expansion, and tree-preserving layout illustrate how architecture can coexist with mature woodland.

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

Garage for car collectionPhoto credit: ATRIUM

The project has gained international recognition, being shortlisted as a finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2025 in both the Completed Buildings – Transport category and the Small Project Prize, highlighting its innovation in redefining a typically utilitarian building type.

ATRIUM

ATRIUM is an international architectural practice founded in 1994 by Anton Nadtochiy and Vera Butko. The studio is known for its conceptual rigor and contextual sensitivity across diverse typologies, including public institutions, educational complexes, transport infrastructure, and private commissions. The studio’s work balances innovation with cultural resonance, often exploring the intersection of technology, ecology, and social function.