Design Studio, Gaydon
for Aston Martin

Occupied in 2008, Aston Martin's new multi-award winning Design Studio completes the aspiration of its C.E.O. Dr Ulrich Bez to have "the best facility of its type in the world, and the perfect showcase of how to design and build innovative sports cars."

The Design Studio is the company's first stand-alone design facility and took just six months to build and only twelve months to complete from its design conception to realisation.

The building has been designed in collaboration with Aston Martin's design team to act as the perfect foil to their HQ, which was also designed by Weedon Partnership llp. The principles behind the design were:-

• That it should compliment the dynamic architecture of Aston Martin's Headquarters.
• That it should sit in harmony with the Warwickshire parkland setting.
• That it should provide the finest environment for the creative styling of automotive vehicles.

Through close collaboration with the construction team assembled by Austrian contractor Holzbau Saurer, the building provides an enviable statement of sustainability. Constructed largely of renewable spruce and oak, with a sedum roof, its use of ground water heating combined with zoned lighting controls and high levels of insulation should ensure very low wholelife energy use.

The project has recently gained recognition from several sources:-

• RIBA award winner
• Roses Sustainability Award Winner
• Wood Award Winner
• British Construction Industry Award - Best Practice Award Winner