Concrete factory

The owners proposed us with to act in an old concrete factory, which was fully operative and met all legal requirements, in order to improve the exploitation in production, enviromental and landscape parameters. We took the assignment as a challenge, from an urbanistic and architectural point of view; the challenge of integrating a “concrete factory“ within a consolidated urban net. There currently typology of such proceedings, either in Spain or Europe, as it always has been associated with such a quite impressive holdings, which seems hardly compatible with urban areas.
From an architectural and urban point of view, we consider that by using the proper treatments any industrial activity can be adapted to the city, if you make a serious study of the problems that can arise and give them a solution, looking for the sustainable exploitation and coexistence of industry and city. An essential element which produces something so necessary for the city as the concrete is integrated into the city. Remains supported by the M40, with easy access to get raw materials and at a suitable place for the final product distribution.
This closeness allows a reduction of the truck routes, and therefore also of the pollution produced and resources consumed. The original plant used to collect the raw materials on the floor, and now a silo based system is designed. With this building energetic efficiency is clearly improved by: producing closer to final consumer; moving to a more technologically advanced production performance, which makes a much better use of the energy consumed.
This project collaborates in the industrial redevelopment of the city. Our aim is to integrate in it, through intelligent processes, essential uses for the city. We get an industrial prototype of urban concrete plant, which is a breakthrough both in minimizing resources consumption and efficiency and quality of production. The facade responds to this mix of uses, adapting itself both to the concrete factor needs as well as to the place where its located. Visual impact: the ‘skin‘ provides the Concrete Plant with a more urban facade integrating it into an environment of office buildings.
Dust and noise emission: the skin that wrap the concrete factory acts as a filter, controlling the emission of both of them. Truck-routes: the possibility to store more arid allows reduce the amount of trucks needed to bring the raw materials, and the work out of rush hours.
We face the project as a reflection about how the new production processes generate new urban images, supported by the access roads to the cities. We also wanted to dignify the manufacturing process of a noble modern material like concrete, adapting it to the needs of a new era and new urban realities that emerged in the twentieth century.