Cars as a form of interior design

RIEDEL Magazine, Issue 01 Spring 2025 | Text: Stefan Arnreiter | Reading time: 3 minutes

When garages become galleries Luxury properties and exclusive cars – two worlds that not only complement each other perfectly, but are increasingly merging. The garage has long since ceased to be merely a functional parking space and is becoming a prestigious showroom. Bespoke lighting concepts, glazed walls and spectacular architecture skilfully showcase automotive masterpieces. Some properties take this trend to the extreme, making the owner’s car an integral part of the living space. Text: Stefan Arnreiter

Note on the edition

This article is taken from the Spring 2025 issue of RIEDEL Magazine. The properties, construction projects and portfolio examples mentioned are as at the time of publication.

More than just a garage: living space meets automotive art

Several dark sports cars side by side in an indirectly lit underground garage with a reflective floor. — Clever lighting and reflections transform this garage into an attractive treasure trove.

The finest examples of this can be found not only in modern luxury villas, but also in RIEDEL Immobilien’s current portfolio, where high-quality architecture and automotive aesthetics go hand in hand.

Anyone buying an exclusive property is not just investing in walls and ceilings, but also in a way of life. And for many, the car is just as much a part of that as designer furniture or works of art. This is precisely where a design gem on the outskirts of Munich comes into its own. The glazed garage, which blends seamlessly into the modern ambience, makes it clear: here, a car isn’t simply parked – it is celebrated.

Another example of the perfect interplay between architecture and the car is a timeless villa in Munich’s Herzogpark. The spacious underground car park not only offers space for several vehicles, but also combines functional perfection with aesthetic sophistication. Thanks to well-thought-out lighting, cleverly placed mirrors and high-quality materials, the car park becomes a prestigious design feature.

This isn’t just a car on display – here, it is celebrated.

A drive to seventh heaven

In a dark-toned lobby, a vehicle stands in a lift shaft behind a round glass front. — Car lift in the Porsche Design Tower

Concepts that bring the car not just into the house, but literally into the living room, take exclusivity to the next level. What was once a bold dream is increasingly becoming a reality in high-end properties. Luxury properties feature glazed showrooms, private car lounges or even lifts that transport the sports car directly to the penthouse floor.

A perfect example of this luxury is the high-end Hamilton Scotts tower block in Singapore. It demonstrates how modern technology and architectural vision literally place the car at the very heart of home life. All 54 flats feature a double garage, separated from the living room only by a pane of glass – secure, perfectly lit and always within easy reach.

Car manufacturers are taking the initiative

A dark cylindrical tower rises above the lower buildings along a wide sandy beach with turquoise water. — Overlooking the ocean, the Porsche Design Tower in Miami enjoys a prime location.

In the first Porsche Design Tower in Miami, your car acts as a key, as it is transported – along with its occupant – up to 60 storeys to your own flat. The system has proved its worth: just three years after Miami, the Porsche Design Tower Stuttgart opened in 2023, and the luxury project of the same name in Bangkok is already under construction.

Even though the cars at the Mercedes-Benz Residences in Dubai and Miami aren’t parked in the living room, the worlds of property and motoring inevitably merge here too. Design elements from the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer run throughout the entire project, and a fleet of Mercedes-Benz cars is always at the residents’ disposal. Bentley and Aston Martin are following this trend with their own residential towers, confirming that luxury property and exclusive cars have long been inseparable.

RIEDEL’s perspective

In Munich, the garage is often a deciding factor in a purchase, more so than one might think. Anyone who owns several vehicles needs sufficient headroom, a wide enough entrance and a ramp that doesn’t hit the ceiling. It’s almost impossible to retrofit these features in existing properties, so they must be factored into the planning at an early stage for new builds. We therefore advise buyers to examine the garage just as closely as the living areas when viewing a property.

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