Wei-Yu Wang brand made famous by a clinical design approach, there is a theatrical touch to McLaren’s headquarters complex. VIPs are directed to a specific entrance at the end of a gracefully winding road. The scene on the left is that of the rolling landscape of the outskirts of Woking, a town in England not far to the southwest of London. The scene on the right is a dramatic panorama of the McLaren Technology Centre.
It is a view-filling, kidney-shaped edifice that disdains corners, fronted by sweeping glass curvature and an expansive and placid artificial lake, generously populated with fish. From directly overhead, the building and lake combine to form a perfect circle. It opened in 2004 and yet its sleekly modernist, high-tech appearance has aged little – but then again, Norman Foster’s projects tend to be timelessly futurist. The McLaren Technology Centre (or MTC for short) is yet another feather in the cap of the renowned British architect, famous for other ambitious and visionary constructions such as the HSBC building in Hong Kong and 30 St Mary Axe in London (a building better known as The Gherkin). The MTC’s original design brief called for “80% NASA, 20% Disney” and today it would not look out of place in a sci-fi movie.
It is a building of pleasingly deliberate construction. There are few extraneous details and everything seems purposefully to have its place, and in general it does. For instance, the artificial lake is part of the cooling system for the air-conditioning and wind tunnel. It is very McLaren.
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2020 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Building Lasting Legacies In Asia
Julius Baer’s commitment to long-term client partnerships is key to its success in helping clients in the region realise their wealth ambitions.
Empowering Generations Of Wealth Owners
Serving one-quarter of the world’s billionaires globally, Citi Private Bank offers a time-tested approach to preserving and growing family wealth, seeking to help legacies flourish for generations to come.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
SUSTAINABILITY ON THE GREENS
The general manager and director of agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, Andrew Johnston, reflects on his tenure at one of Asia’s elite golfing destinations.
Best of the Best - Wine
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Travel
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Home
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Technology
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Style
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Jewellery
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.