Inmos Central Spine

The Inmos factory was commissioned by the British semiconductor firm Inmos, as part of a government initiative to support the growth of the UK’s emerging microchip industry. As with many of Rogers’ buildings, the structure and services of the factory are visible externally, allowing for a more open interior. The brief from Inmos called for completion of the building within one year of construction and an area dedicated to microchip production with controlled clinical conditions protected from dust and vibration as well as open plan offices and a staff canteen. To meet this deadline, the design was conceived as a modular system using prefabricated components that were produced off-site, then transported and assembled rapidly on location. The building consists of sixteen identical bays, each measuring 13 by 36 metres, forming a simple rectilinear plan. Reyner Banham described it as ‘the first really challenging building of the 1980s’, recognising its innovative approach and influence on future industrial design.