The façade of the sugar refinery is articulated as a continuous layer of white perforated metal panels, arranged with disciplined, almost textile-like regularity. This perforated veil softens the industrial scale of the building and introduces a subtle translucency that shifts throughout the day. Behind it, the brand’s signature deep blue emerges not as a static backdrop, but as a chromatic presence that varies in intensity with changing light conditions — at times barely perceptible, at other moments glowing vividly through the perforated skin.

Up close, the façade reveals its dual character: the white metal surface provides a crisp, almost immaterial texture, while the blue volume behind it anchors the building with depth and identity. At night, internal lighting highlights the machinery and structural elements within, turning the perforated layer into a luminous scrim that hints at the industrial processes inside without fully exposing them.

At the truck entrances, the cladding folds outward in a precise, intentional gesture. These angular projections interrupt the otherwise planar façade, creating clear, recognizable portals for heavy-vehicle access. The slight cantilever of these elements, combined with the contrast between the white metal and the solid blue surfaces, frames the openings in a way that is both functional and sculptural. This bending of the façade not only signals entry but also establishes a dynamic rhythm along the building’s length.

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STATUS: built (2024)

LOCATION: Porto (PT)

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER : Eleven Steps

MEP ENGINEER: SprenPLAN