Studio Royale

An Aston Martin DBS (with or without the Norton-Villiers supercharger) is James Bond’s car of choice, so it is not surprising that the firm that makes it has a design studio that is as perfectly groomed and glamorous as 007 himself.

The building is located in Gaydon, in the heart of Warwickshire, next to the company’s factory. “The modular oak structure and glass combine well with the stonework of the headquarters and surrounding countryside,” says Marek Reichman, Aston design director.

The interior has a similar sensory impact as the cars. “We have the smells and colours of Aston Martin around us,” notes Reichman, referring to the delicate wood that seems almost carved by hand, the stainless steel finishing and travertine marble flooring.

The studio is not just attractive; it is also functional, thanks to Reichman’s instrumental role in the design process.

At 2,700m2, the main studio provides ample space for five full-scale clay models to be built simultaneously. One side is faced entirely in glass that allows natural light to flood the studio, but it is north facing, to avoid direct sunlight hitting the cars.

“A studio has to allow you to view cars from all angles,“ says Reichman. He worked closely with the architect to create an interior that follows “the flow of the design process”.

Most crucially, this is Aston Martin’s first design studio. It shared its creative space with Land Rover and Jaguar, its sister brands at Ford, until last year.

Reichman says: “This will let us make far more ideas a reality.”