Norman Foster

The Spectrum Building in Swindon is a High-Tech architecture icon, made famous as a set for the 1984 Bond film A View to a Kill, starring Roger Moore.

French car manufacturer Renault commissioned Foster to design the warehouse, with showrooms, offices, and ancillary facilities, in 1979. It was completed in 1982.

The 24,000m2, bright yellow steel-framed building is now set for a multimillion pound makeover, reports the Swindon Advertiser. Global asset manager AEW will be funding the renovation, which, according to reports, will change ‘dramatically’ the appearance of the building.

MAPP Building Consultancy is the outline designer and project manager for the refurbishment, working alongside ECUS Ecological Consultants, KJ Tait Engineering and Swindon-based Beard Construction.

The works will comprise a refurbishment of the PVC membrane roof and repairs to the frame, which is made up of tubular masts and arched steel beams.

Source:Norman Foster

The Spectrum Building drawing

MAPP partner Alex Herrmann said the works would ensure ‘this important building remains fit for purpose for its next phase of life’.

AEW UK director Michael Shears said: ‘Our efforts are focused on ensuring that the historic High-Tech character of the Spectrum building is maintained, while increasing its sustainability and creating a truly green asset for the community in Swindon.’

Foster + Partners confirmed it was unaware of the refurbishment. The works are expected to be completed in May 2024.

In 2013 the Spectrum Building was given Grade II*-listed status by English Heritage for its ‘highly innovative’ industrial design.

Source:Richard Davies

The Spectrum Building visualisation

The heritage watchdog said Foster’s design embodied ‘key features and characteristics of the British High-Tech movement’.

The bright yellow finish was the Renault company house colour, while the architecture was intended to ‘express the technological innovation of the products within’, according to English Heritage. Foster designed all fixtures and fittings for the building.

The architect reportedly put flexibility at the heart of the plan, devising a grid system around a single central ‘umbrella mast’ that could be extended in any direction to fit an irregular site.

The grid is made of 42 steel frame modules, each 24m2, with 36 enclosing the warehouse and the building tapers at its southern end, surrounding the showroom with an open single module canopy.

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TagsFoster + Partners High Tech Retrofit