Ortogonalità metalliche Metal Orthogonalities

Transcription

1 Ortogonalità metalliche Metal Orthogonalities Le Cellier-sur-Loire, fabbrica Aplix Le Cellier-sur-Loire, Aplix factory Progetto di Dominique Perrault Project by Dominique Perrault 36

2 LAVORO WORK La facciata della fabbrica Aplix, produttrice di sistemi autoadesivi in materiale plastico e tessuto, si apre lungo la strada RN23 a Le Cellier-sur-Loire e, grazie ai pannelli di acciaio corrugato riflettente che la rivestono, amplifica la luce e il paesaggio, mettendo l impianto industriale in stretto rapporto con la natura circostante. The facade of the Aplix factory, which manufactures self-adhesive systems made of plastic and fabric, stands along RN23 Highway in Le Cellier-sur-Loire and, thanks to the reflective corrugated steel panels covering it, amplifies the light and landscape, bringing the industrial plant into close contact with nature. 37

3 Minimalism, monumentalism, geometric abstraction, linearity and precision are the distinctive traits of Dominique Perrault s architectural works. Winner of the 1993 National Architecture Grand Prix and famous for designing the Très Grande Bibliothèque in Paris, this essentialist architect does not just consider a work of architecture as a stylistic feature incorporated in space but also attempts to shape the properties, functions and content of structures that are designed to interact with the surrounding environment. Aplix factory in Le Cellier-sur-Loire (France) built between looks like an orthogonal monolith comparable to Sol LeWitt s conceptual works. It is totally clad with shiny metal scales and constructed along the edge of RN23 Highway on flat land. The factory s main facade is 300 meters long, borders on the highway and, thanks to its reflective surface, alters how the location is perceived, as it sets out to reflect nature, trees and the surrounding landscape. This factory appears to be designed like a stage curtain providing a backdrop to the road along which this imposing building stands, covering a total area of 29,900 square meters. Dominique Perrault is renowned for his orthogonal, rectilinear and linear buildings, reworking Le Corbusier s rationalist-humanistic style in his own personal key; both share the idea of total abstraction and purity of structures and forms. According to Perrault, the specific traits and features of a building provide the means for constructing places interacting with the environment (and not just architecture) in certain locations. Aplix factory in Le Cellier is a flexible system and can be modified according to production needs. Its structures can also be extended without having to consult the architect again. The basic cellular system employed can cater for all the numerous possibilities in terms of expanding and reshaping the building lot. The entire surface area has been cordoned into 20x20 meters sections, in order to construct a grid of criss-crossing patterns playing on solid structures and empty spaces. The factory is constructed around a juxtaposition of these units measuring 7 meters in height. The manufacturing, management and storage functions are set on the grid around a few fixed elements and tree-lined courtyards. This strategy encompasses tall trees and lawns, which all help structure the factory itself. The reiterated nature of the 20x20 base unit applied right across the entire surface of the building lot calls to mind Ivan Leonidov s suprematist schemes. Perrault once stated in an interview that: Architecture is interruption because it always creates a rupture with the surrounding space. The challenge is to maintain open interaction with the environment, and this premise has been respected in the case of Aplix horizontal factory, which features a simple design with no windows that is entirely clad with a metal scales designed to attract light and reflect the setting. This factory looks like a barrierscreen, reflecting nature and enhancing the beauty of the local landscape. It is a work of architecture that actually reflects on the need to create harmony between man and industry. This selfreferential orthogonal monolith really reveals the true potential of energy resources generated by people working inside the factory with due respect for the environment. The structure protects a production system running along an internal road allowing the circulation of forklift trucks and handling of both raw materials and finished products. It is designed to rapidly adapt to a process of transformation and extension of the areas allocated for production forming two neighboring zones: two workshops designed to churn out products destined for industry, three areas designed to manufacture consumer products. 39 Sezioni e pianta del piano terra. Sections and plan of the ground floor.

4 32_89_Project_26OK:28-91 Project 12 IT/ING ++ 04/01/12 14:40 Pagina 39 M inimalism, monumentalism, geometric abstraction, linearity and precision are the distinctive traits of Dominique Perrault s architectural works. Winner of the 1993 National Architecture Grand Prix and famous for designing the Très Grande Bibliothèque in Paris, this essentialist architect does not just consider a work of architecture as a stylistic feature incorporated in space but also attempts to shape the properties, functions and content of structures that are designed to interact with the surrounding environment. Aplix factory in Le Cellier-sur-Loire (France) built between looks like an orthogonal monolith comparable to Sol LeWitt s conceptual works. It is totally clad with shiny metal scales and constructed along the edge of RN23 Highway on flat land. The factory s main facade is 300 meters long, borders on the highway and, thanks to its reflective surface, alters how the location is perceived, as it sets out to reflect nature, trees and the surrounding landscape. This factory appears to be designed like a stage curtain providing a backdrop to the road along which this imposing building stands, covering a total area of 29,900 square meters. Dominique Perrault is renowned for his orthogonal, rectilinear and linear buildings, reworking Le Corbusier s rationalist-humanistic style in his own personal key; both share the idea of total abstraction and purity of structures and forms. According to Perrault, the specific traits and features of a building provide the means for constructing places interacting with the environment (and not just architecture) in certain locations. Aplix factory in Le Cellier is a flexible system and can be modified according to production needs. Its structures can also be extended without having to consult the architect again. The basic cellular system employed can cater for all the numerous possibilities in terms of expanding and re- shaping the building lot. The entire surface area has been cordoned into 20x20 meters sections, in order to construct a grid of criss-crossing patterns playing on solid structures and empty spaces. The factory is constructed around a juxtaposition of these units measuring 7 meters in height. The manufacturing, management and storage functions are set on the grid around a few fixed elements and tree-lined courtyards. This strategy encompasses tall trees and lawns, which all help structure the factory itself. The reiterated nature of the 20x20 base unit applied right across the entire surface of the building lot calls to mind Ivan Leonidov s suprematist schemes. Perrault once stated in an interview that: Architecture is interruption because it always creates a rupture with the surrounding space. The challenge is to maintain open interaction with the environment, and this premise has been respected in the case of Aplix horizontal factory, which features a simple design with no windows that is entirely clad with metal scales designed to attract light and reflect the setting. This factory looks like a barrierscreen, reflecting nature and enhancing the beauty of the local landscape. It is a work of architecture that actually reflects on the need to create harmony between man and industry. This selfreferential orthogonal monolith really reveals the true potential of energy resources generated by people working inside the factory with due respect for the environment. The structure protects a production system running along an internal road allowing the circulation of forklift trucks and handling of both raw materials and finished products. It is designed to rapidly adapt to a process of transformation and extension of the areas allocated for production forming two neighboring zones: two workshops designed to churn out products destined for industry, three areas designed to manufacture consumer products. Sezioni e pianta del piano terra. Sections and plan of the ground floor. 39

5 40 Particolare della facciata nord del volume che contiene gli uffici, caratterizzata da ampie porzioni vetrate che garantiscono condizioni ottimali di luminosità all interno.

6 Detail of the north facade of the structure holding the offices, featuring wide sections of glass providing optimum lighting conditions inside. 41

7 Detail of the north facade of the structure holding the offices, featuring wide sections of glass providing optimum lighting conditions inside. 41

8 Viste e particolari delle facciate in acciaio inossidabile corrugato e rifinito a specchio. Questo particolare rivestimento e il sistema di pieghettatura delle lastre metalliche è stato progettato dallo stesso Dominique Perrault in collaborazione con la PMA, la ditta che lo ha prodotto. 42

9 Views and details of the corrugated stainless steel facades with mirror finishes. This particular kind of covering and the system of folds in the metal sheets was designed by Dominique Perrault himself in partnership with PMA, the company that manufactured it. 43