Luxury car retailer H.R. Owen open ground-breaking multi-franchise dealership in Hatfield
19th January 2024
We were thrilled to receive the invitation to contribute to the H.R. Owen Hatfield project, a venture announced by H.R. Owen CEO Ken Choo in 2021. This automotive haven, situated to the north of London, serves as a multi-franchise dealership representing esteemed brands such as Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and includes a specialised Bugatti service centre.
The complex, designed by architects Louis de Soissons, features a distinctive winged roof design that recalls the site’s rich aeronautical history. It comprises an eastern wing housing four showrooms and two workshops, with office spaces arranged around a shared courtyard. The west houses two further showrooms spanning three levels, accompanied by additional workshop facilities and vehicle storage.
There are technical challenges to overcome when tiling an automotive showroom: surfaces need to be spotless to better display the machines and therefore easily cleaned; they need to be strong and durable to accommodate the moving of the vehicles; more often than not, showrooms have a large footprint requiring a significant amount of flooring.
Lee Simmonds, Solus Area Sales Manager, talked us through the project, “The footprint of the site is large, and to get these 1000x3000x6mm slabs down and brick-bonded, to such a high standard was no mean feat. The reduction in grouting lines means a more expansive feeling to the space that fulfils, and I think exceeds, the original brief of polished concrete.
“Slabs are a relatively new product, and some architects are still a bit uncertain about them, so this was a great opportunity to demonstrate how reliable, safe, practical, and aesthetically pleasing they are. Porcelain has higher technical performance than both polished concrete and natural stone in this context. It has a lower carbon footprint than concrete and can be replaced more easily as it is modular. Natural stone must be sealed and does not have the same uniformity of grip, or durability that porcelain has. A porcelain tile is as good as its substrate, so we made sure to communicate that to the architects.
“The fact that we work with manufacturers that are producing 6mm slabs that you can roll cars over is exciting and I’m delighted to support architects when they specify this type of product. “I think it’s important to point out that we can give advice and support to fulfil the aesthetics of a design brief that is associated with strictly controlled global brand guidelines, as well as on the critical technical qualities of a product, including its sustainability profile.” Lee Simmonds, Area Sales Manager.
The ambitious multi-million pound project is a testament to H.R. Owen’s commitment to excellence, marking the most significant undertaking in the luxury motor retailer’s 90-year history. Located on a five-acre site in Hertfordshire, formerly the site of the renowned de Havilland aircraft factory, it is a place of historical significance. De Havilland, known for its innovative contributions to aeronautics, produced iconic aircraft such as the Moth biplane, the versatile wooden Mosquito, and the ground-breaking passenger jet, the Comet. In a pleasing coincidence, Bentley, now with a dealership on the same site, once manufactured the Merlin engine that powered the legendary de Havilland Mosquito.
“When partnering with esteemed names like Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, or Ferrari, one isn’t simply offering a service; it’s a commitment to upholding the same standards of excellence that these automotive giants demand of themselves. At Solus, we take this commitment to heart, striving to ensure that our clients in the luxury automotive sector are not only satisfied, but absolutely delighted with the exceptional results we deliver.” Chris Dennis, Corporate Account Manager.
ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN: Louis de Soissons
PHOTOGRAPHY: Richard Washbrooke
RANGES USED IN THIS PROJECT: Stalwart, Porcelain Flare
