Studio VDGA designed Star Engineers’ factory and administrative buildings, which is longlisted for a Dezeen Award, as a facility that would be pleasant to work at in hot weather.

A facade of perforated metal in different colours prevents the need for blinds or further sun-shading and adds interest, along with planters placed in gaps in the grid.

These courtyards are filled with a mixture of paving, plants and large rocks, with a concrete grid above casting a changing pattern of shadows across them throughout the day.

An entrance underneath the large, leads to a loose corridor around which the offices and open spaces are arranged, with glazed partitions to allow for sight lines through spaces and natural light.

“A gaze across the office presents one with the pleasing view of landscape and water instead of the blind partitions and decorative interiors,” explained the studio.

The interiors play with the contrast between red brick and concrete, leaving the structure exposed wherever possible.

Although factories often call for simple, shed-like volumes, many architects take them as an opportunity to experiment. In Taiwan, Waterfrom Design recently modernised a 30-year-old factory, adding coloured cladding and translucent glazing.

Source: Dezeen

Photo:  Hiroyuki Oki.

Jon Astbury post.