This industrial facility has been conceived to work in symbiosis with the neighboring paper factory, generating clean energy from paper waste.
A detailed engineering brief guided the design, shaping a building defined by rigorous constraints and echoing the precision and functionality of the machines it houses.

The sloping terrain becomes an asset, naturally accommodating spaces at different levels as required by the program. The facility is composed of two simple volumes set on a concrete plinth. Their façades alternate between raw concrete block and sleek metal cladding, while wide reticular steel beams span the entire width, creating an interior free from columns.

On the short sides, concrete block walls are pierced with circular openings that filter light into the interior, offering glimpses of the rhythmic activity within. Along the long sides, the exposed steel structure defines the façade and frames the large entrance gates. The tension between rough concrete blocks and smooth metal elements accentuates the building’s industrial identity.

Positioned prominently at the top of the slope, the facility, with its strict repetition of structural elements, it recalls the solemnity of a Greek temple. In this sense, it becomes a modern temple, where the driving force is not spiritual devotion, but the power of the recycling process.

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STATUS: Cancelled

LOCATION: Santa Maia da Feira (PT)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Eleven Steps