Description
The Renault distribution center is the French car manufacturer’s main distribution hub in the UK. It was built on an irregular, sloping parcel of 6.50 ha on the western outskirts of Swindon. Renault was aiming for a path-breaking architectural concept for the premises to reflect the quality of its products. Possible future changes to the building had to be considered in the scheme. Thus, the concept is based on modular building systems offering the possibility of large future extensions. The structure already comprises joints for potential additions so that building works can go ahead without interrupting business operations.
The exterior appearance of the building is characterized by the scale of the individual modules, the impressive structural design and the use of Renault’s corporate color yellow. Each of the 42 identical modules covers 24 m x 24 m. The building is four modules wide; this dimension is reduced to one module at the south end where the glazed entrance hall is located. One continuous skin wraps around the 25,000 m² floor area and unites all functions: storage, distribution, a regional computer-controlled centre, a car and truck showroom, an educational centre with workshops and training rooms as well as a restaurant and foyer. The different areas can be extended module-by-module, and can be exchanged because of their homogenous structure. The largest area of the functional zones is the storage area.
The bearing structure consists of steel girders, which are suspended from prestressed tubular steel masts. The glazed building envelope runs behind the structure, which is consequently fully exposed. By means of the structure, maximum span can be achieved with minimal use of material. Because of the clear interior height of 7.50 m the building can accommodate the various uses. The roof skin is a PVC-foil on a 75 mm layer of glass wool, which is interrupted by skylights in the center of each module ensuring that sufficient daylight enters the building. The exterior walls consist of two layers of sheet metal with an insulating polyurethane core.
Drawings
Site plan
Floor plan diagram
Side and front elevations
Section through workshop, training room, office wing and showroom
Interior perspective
Axonometric view of the prefabricated structural elements
Photos
Exterior view of the exposed structure consisting of pre-stressed masts and folded girders
Interior view of the showroom
Originally published in: Jürgen Adam, Katharina Hausmann, Frank Jüttner, Industrial Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2004.