The architecture of most industrial factories is often rigid, monotonous, and designed solely for work, typically lacking in quality by overlooking the living conditions of the personnel. However, since employees spend a significant amount of time in the workspace, it is essential to consider factors that influence their sense of satisfaction and comfort. Studies have shown that the work environment impacts employee satisfaction, attachment to the workplace, performance, efficiency, and ultimately, the productivity of the factory. Therefore, by diagnosing the current conditions, the design goal is "to enhance the quality of the factory space for employees and contribute to increased factory productivity."
With this objective, we decided to reduce the rigidity of the factory building's mass and introduce features that allow nature to penetrate and create interactive spaces for various sections. The following strategies align with this goal:
- Creation of a Movement and Communication Axis: Given the factory site's access from two sides to the main street, a communication and movement axis was considered between the two streets, passing through the production hall and the administrative section of the factory. This axis, by separating the entrance and exit of the site, helps facilitate the movement of industrial machinery and also serves as the communication axis of the factory. Although this axis creates a boundary between the quiet administrative space and the noisy, bustling production area, it provides an opportunity for interaction between these two sections in a different and meaningful way, allowing for the design of spaces with diverse functions. The created axis, by separating the two building blocks, also enhances the amount of natural light and ventilation each block receives. Additionally, it provides the opportunity to design semi-open spaces such as bridges and terraces.
- Inspired by the Surrounding Mountain Landscape: The project site is located in an area that offers natural views of the Zagros Mountains on two sides. The factory's mass design was inspired by the lines and geometry of this landscape. The factory's volume was designed in a way that reduces the rigidity of the building. Therefore, the production hall’s mass is separated in the middle and then divided into two sections. By rotating the angles and changing the roof height of each section, roof breaks are created that, in addition to creating a varied skyline, allow natural light and ventilation to enter from different directions.
- Interaction Between the Inside and Outside of the Project: One strategy to improve the quality of the space is to increase the permeability of the building mass. For this reason, negative spaces within the main volume were designed as terraces or entry forecourts. These terraces, with their various shapes and sizes, not only help bring in light and natural ventilation but can also serve as green spaces that provide a calm, focused, and interactive environment for factory personnel. The terraces are semi-open spaces that enhance the connection between the external environment and the interior of the project, reducing the rigidity of the space.
- Interaction Between the Production and Administrative Sections of the Factory: Two large terraces, facing each other, one in the production hall for workers and the other for administrative staff, were designed. These two terraces are connected by a bridge, further emphasizing the interaction between these two sections. In this project, with the aim of increasing interaction among different individuals in the factory, we emphasized the design of interactive spaces. For this reason, the color of the surfaces in these interactive spaces is distinct from other spaces and is designed in red.
- In Conclusion: Considering that many people work in large factories, their satisfaction can influence their performance, the factory’s productivity, and the overall health of the community. Therefore, factors such as diversity of functions, privacy, security, and comfort were considered in the design, with various spaces designated for greenery, rest, focus, conversation, and collaboration.