Molsheim, France

Bugatti Automobile S.a.s

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Molsheim lies 25 km southwest of Strasbourg at the edge of the Vogesen hills.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Ettore Bugatti lived in Molsheim from 1909 to 1947, where he designed and built about 8,000 Bugatti vehicles. Countless race victories gained the marque world-wide fame.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Parts of the earlier factory still survive and now manufacture aircraft components under the name Messier Bugatti.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

South of the factory over the boundary into the neighbouring district of Dorlisheim, there is an 1857 chateau in its own stately grounds. Ettore Bugatti used this chateau as an impressive backdrop for presenting his new models. The chateau has two stables buildings, one to each side, built in 1788 and 1853, which contribute to the idyll of the estate and park landscape.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The listed group of buildings is complemented by a gateway, an orangery and a porter’s lodge. The gateway is oldest part of the building and dates from the 14th century.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

To the south the complex is extended by a new manufacturing facility, the studio. In the immediate vicinity there is a logistics hall, along with helicopter landing pad and test track.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Construction took place from 1999 to 2005.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Chateau

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The chateau, built in 1857, is a two storey solid masonry building on a raised basement plinth with dimensions 22×11 m. The rectangular building is topped with a high mansard roof with window openings. With its two high main storeys, the clear, symmetrical, seven window wide facade with raised central projection and flanking bays, the building reflects the late classical form of architecture. The high, narrow window format makes the building appear larger than it really is.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

In recent times the chateau was used as accommodation for the workers from the Bugatti factory.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Today the chateau is the headquarters of Bugatti Automobile S.A.S.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The current use of the building necessitated complete internal demolition and a redesign.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The upper storey has an oval floor plan and creates a spacious volume over two storeys. The oval is bounded by two concave walls. Vertical access is behind the walls by stairs designed to resemble the outside stairs. The administration is located in the roof storey. The historic facade was fully restored to its original condition in accordance with the requirements of the authorities responsible for listed buildings.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Northern stables building

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The northern stables building originated in 1853. The year of construction is shown on the keystone in the central archway on the southern side. The long building with dimensions 41×9 m is now a stable and residential accommodation. The poor state of the existing building meant that it had to be taken down with the agreement of the authorities responsible for listed buildings and reconfigured for its new use.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The northern stables building was rebuilt on the old plan layout using the original timber components and sandstone window and door surrounds. The facade was restored to its original condition in cooperation with the authority responsible for listed buildings. The former stable doors were given modern glazed elements. The characteristic division into three parts was retained.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The former middle stable section is used today as a restoration workshop. The single storey workshop uses the full building height. Structural steelwork supports the roof truss and the travelling crane rails. The building services equipment is left exposed and integrated into the new building.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The workshop is linked to the adjacent end blocks by galleries. The western end has social areas on the ground floor and a design office on the upper floor. The eastern end provides guest apartments.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

Southern stables building

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The southern stables building was erected in 1788. It has stables and is available as a hostel for pilgrims of the Knights of St John on their way to Santiago de Campostela. The cross of the order can be seen on the dated keystone and on a plate on the northern facade on the chateau. The long building with dimensions of 33×11 m is divided into two characteristic parts, the stables with its high steep roof on the east and an end building with a double pitch roof towards the chateau. The ridge height is 11 m.

Photo: H.G. Esch, courtesy of Henn Architekten

The poor state of the existing building meant that the southern stables building also had to be taken down with the agreement of the authorities responsible for listed buildings. The building was rebuilt in brickwork using the original components and sandstone surrounds to the windows and doors on the same slightly kinked plan shape. The facade was reconstructed, the east side of the building has large openings. The openings on the east side give the building additional views on to the orangery. The former stable is now an exhibition room and vehicle hand-over area. The end building houses the services rooms on the ground floor, and a room with an open hearth and the library in the upper storey.

Studio

The studio is the new workshop for Bugatti Automobile.

The studio consists of an oval studio building and three purpose-built test modules. The oval measures 76 m in length and is a total of 45 m deep. The building stands on a continuous plinth, which gives it the appearance of floating.

This is where the Bugatti cars are assembled. One vehicle is built by hand each week.

The assembly bays are in the middle of the oval. They look out over the landscape to the south. On the western end of the oval is the engine preassembly section and opposite this at the eastern end are the social area on the ground floor and the offices on the upper floor. The test units are opposite the assembly bays and the vehicles can be driven directly over to them. Transparent connections between the modules allow an overview of the testing process.

The test modules are constructed in reinforced concrete, the oval in reinforced concrete on a concrete plinth. The oval is enclosed in fluted perforated sheets.

The oval plan layout makes reference to the Bugatti marque emblem.

Europaconcorsi Beta

Bugatti Automobile S.a.s