Offices and Construction Facility, Gaydon
for Aston Martin

Aston Martin re-launched itself with its new car, the DB9, and a unique landmark building which draws on Aston Martin’s heritage and prestige, whilst clearly underlining their commitment to the future.

Completed in 2003 the 43,434sq m facility has been set in a gently undulating landscape suggesting an English country estate. Its sweeping curves and lack of decoration mirrors Aston Martin's ethos for dynamic and contemporary design. Invited customers will be intrigued by what might lie behind the stone facade of the client reception and feel a sense of privilege at being invited inside to see where their cars are craftsman built.

The production facility provides a clutter-free modern environment where physical barriers have been broken down, ease of communication is paramount and all members can easily work together. The 7000sq m offices are immediately adjacent to the production building but separated by a double height street which acts as an informal meeting area, an exhibition space and an atrium at the back of the office floor plates.

The customer entrance takes the form of a 21st Century drawbridge, while the glazed elements of the satellite building are hidden from the view of VIPs by a projecting wall in the manner of a fortification buttress. The location of the customer-orientated suites within the curved front facade results in a particularly deep entrance lobby, which in turn reinforces the privilege-of-admission visitor perceptions and ensures maximum impact for the double-height reception space within

The meticulously detailed, travertine-clad reception area is naturally lit by a full-height glass curtain wall overlooking a modern, geometric, external garden space, which is itself sandwiched between the satellite and main factory buildings, and marks the beginning of a double-height "street". This acts as a light-well to the back of open-plan office floor plates and links to the main circulation spine of the facility, which runs along the full depth of the factory floor.

In October 2004 Aston Martin was awarded a BCO award in the Corporate Workplace Category.

Contract Value - Undisclosed.