A long curved wall clad in black steel encloses this electric-car factory that Snøhetta has created in Chengdu, China for the automotive brand Polestar.
Completed in 2019, but revealed in new photos released by Polestar, the production facility also functions as a visitor centre for the Swedish company's customers in China.
Top image: the factory is fronted by a long curved facade. Above: it is clad in black steel
Snøhetta chose black steel cladding for the building to set it apart from its surroundings, while its undulating form pays homage to the dynamism of the car industry.
"The curve as an element acts as a structuring gesture, creating associations to the movement and dynamics of the car industry and car racing, tying the landscape and the building together," Snøhetta explained. The form reflects the "movement and dynamics of the car industry"
The metallic facade is disrupted only where it lifts to reveal large glass windows and doors, which mark the building's entrance points and maximise natural light inside.
Steel is also used throughout the building's structure and interiors, in tandem with concrete. These materials were chosen for their robustness and durability.
The factory also doubles as a visitor centre
Inside the Polestar Production Facility, Snøhetta has incorporated an extensive factory space, alongside offices, canteens and a visitor centre.
Workspaces throughout the building are designed to be open and shared by employees from dif...