Factory with flexibility built in

Nicholas Grimshaw and Partners has designed a factory for the German plastics company, Igus. The steel-clad building incorporates a high level of flexibility as well as expressing the company's corporate structure. The roof is suspended from four pylons situated in inner courtyards. Ventilation and natural lighting are provided from roof domes while offices are housed in moveable 'pods.' There were no serious problems for the British architect or contractor working in Germany.