From Wellington Bombers to Formula 1, Mather & Co and Cube Design create the Silverstone Experience

– Paul Lee
The Silverstone Experience, a journey through the home of British motor racing, is to open in a refurbished WW2 RAF hangar later this month.
The £20m (US$24.6m, €22.3m) development has taken seven years to bring to fruition and included the restoration of the 4,000sq m (13,100sq ft) hangar.
Led by architect Jane Lock-Smith of Cube Design, the project required more work than was initially expected, with the hangar having to be stripped right back to its steel frame.
Sally Reynolds, CEO of Silverstone Heritage, told CLAD: "The condition of the building was far worse than expected. We had to take the roof off, reinforce the frame and then repaint and reclad the whole building."
Elaborating further, Lock-Smith told us: "Careful restoration had to be undertaken, including the foundations around the base of the hangar, replacement of some steelwork sections that had corroded, and careful assessment for the re-cladding of the hangar. The hangar is so delicately designed that the cladding system could not be supported off the original frame."
A modern new entrance building was created in a similar style to the hangar and chameleon-like cladding was fitted that changes colour in the light and shade. Special lighting has been installed so visitors can see the internal structure of the hangar and a new extension, housing a shop, a café and archive, was also built.
Sports museum specialists Mather & Co were responsible for the design of the exhibition and interactive features, with 20 activities for visitors to try, including changing an F1 tyre, climbing into a replica 1940s grand prix car and piloting a Wellington bomber in a simulator.
Paul Lee, senior project designer at Mather & Co, said the intention had been to bring out Silverstone's rich heritage and social community in the designs and story-telling for all demographics, not just motorsport fans: "We've brought to life all elements of Silverstone's rich history, from its roots as a base for wartime Wellington bombers to the modern-day technology seen in the Formula 1 cars that race here today."
The hangar was one of six built during the construction of RAF Silverstone, which began in 1941. The site was subsequently taken over as a motor racing circuit after the war, with only one of the six hangars remaining.
Originally due to open in July 2019, delays became inevitable in June when construction firm Shaylor Group went into administration. The Silverstone Experience opens on October 25th.
Silverstone Experience National Lottery Heritage Fund British Racing Drivers' Club Silverstone Silverstone Heritage Mather & Co Cube Design





Silverstone Experience delayed after contractor enters administration
Silverstone Experience gearing up for June opening
Home of British motor racing to get permanent museum as Silverstone Heritage Experience gets green flag


Architizer celebrates best of spa and wellness architecture at 11th Annual A+Awards

“We finally have a space worthy of our collection”: V&A launches huge new Photography Centre

Immersive storytelling museum takes pride of place at revamped Tiffany & Co. in NYC following redesign led by Peter Marino and OMA

Elegant Dior spa inspired by nature opens at Hôtel Du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes

Bjarke Ingels among finalists chosen in design competition for National Museum of the United States Navy

De Matos Ryan and AOC Architecture prepare to open Young V&A London

ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel creates new Bulgari Tokyo

Manchester City submits £300m Populous-designed plans to redevelop Etihad Stadium and add 400-bedroom hotel

Woods Bagot completes $120m refurb of Continental Sorrento with subterranean bathhouse and spa

New Dior spa carriage opens aboard Belmond’s luxury Royal Scotsman train

Bjarke Ingels creates meandering eco distillery attraction for Blue Run Kentucky

bbspa_Group to realise urban destination spa inside Sardinian football stadium

Thinkwell to deliver the world's first Play-Doh attractions in Saudi Arabia

Jayasom partners with Amaala to unveil multigenerational health resort in Saudi Arabia

OMA's Ellen van Loon is the visionary behind new cultural centre for Manchester

James Corner Field Operations creates Highline for London

Esbjerg’s landmark maritime center, designed by WERK Arkitekter and Snøhetta, opens to the public

SEVEN to open world’s first indoor Discovery Adventures centres in Saudi Arabia

Fun and fear drive new Universal attraction concepts for Texas and Las Vegas

Voelker Gray Design creates 10-acre hot springs wellness haven for Atlanta

AIDarchitecten create healing spa for Antwerp's Botanic Sanctuary

Hollaway Studio's Seahive would bring blue health to South-East England

SEVEN to invest US$13bn in developing entertainment destinations across Saudi Arabia

World Spa’s expansive 50,000sq ft urban bathhouse and wellness club opens in Brooklyn

Floating Salmon Eye visitor attraction by Kvorning Design highlights sustainable aquaculture

White Arkitekter's Wood Hotel in Skellefteå Swedish Lapland is climate positive and made from local timber

Nohlab's 'Everything' installation among Noor Riyadh festival highlights

Bob Iger's return to Disney sparks major restructuring focused on creativity and storytelling

Therme Group plans US$200m urban wellbeing resort in South Korea

Digital art installation in Nanjing helps the public keep an eye on exoplanets
From parks designed to mitigate the effects of flooding to warming huts for one of the world’s coldest cities, these projects have been designed for increasingly extreme climates