My favorite: Volkswagen Transparent Factory in Dresden (2002)
Entire walls of glass, parquet floors made of wood, electrical equipment supplied wirelessly ;it that looks like a modern car factory, which was opened by Volkswagen in Dresden.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd5WGLWNllA
A Photo Tour of the Transparent Factory in Dresden:
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1837641
Farmacias Ahumada Distribution Centre Chile (2006)
This building is particularly interesting in terms of energy. It is designed to exploit thenatural sunlight, energy produced primarily by the activity of solar, wind and geothermal energy. With the economical and ecological operation, it is good for the environment.
More information and pictures:
http://www.e-architect.co.uk/chile/farmacias_ahumada.htm
Veolia Materials Recovery Facility (2005)
The hidden advantage of this facility, where is processed vegetable waste, is a green roof in size of two football fields. The lawn on the roof prevents from the fluctuation of temperature inside the building, reduces stains and the most important it blocks thousands of tons of pollutants to be emitted into the air.
More information and pictures:
http://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/project.cfm?id=705
Bodegas Protos (2002)
Concern for the wine, drink of the gods, is not a simple matter - the wine must be stored in appropriate conditions. Building of wine company Bodegas Protos is a half basement. Gently embedded in the ground, having a light and airy design. Cooling wine in vats is provided by not only a night temperature and shielding system but also the rock in which the object is immersed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDEATp0BD9Y
More information and a slide show:
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/bts/archives/industrialbuildings/09_ProtosWinery/
Mahle Metal Leve Tech Center (2008)
The plant in the wilderness? The building in which there are produced parts for automobiles, designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Loeb. The original topography is kept, energy is reduced by the usage of natural light. It is placed on the roof of large tanks filled with water. They have several tasks to do, mainly maintaining a constant humidity in the factory, temperature correction and fire-fighting.
More information and a slideshow:
http://pl.blog.urbarama.com/project/mahle-metal-leve-new-tech-center-2476
If you liked this presentation take a look here:
http://archrecord.construction.com/
Q: Are you surprised that bad, dirty, polluting factories can be environmentally friendly and exciting places to work?
Q: Would you consider working in a factory if it was similar to these ones?
Q: Do you know similar plants located in Poland?
Environmentally friendly factory! - Doesn't it sound oddly?;)
ReplyDeleteThe architecture of those buildings is very fancy and modern. It is difficult to believe that the factory's buildings can look like that...
The obvious thing is that I would prefer to work in such a nice place than in old, dirty and polluting factory;).
What's a pity that Polish factories don't look like that ones from your post but I guess that in this case everything is about money...
Dirty and mean factories have become a relict of the past. Although it might still be so in case of steel mills or other heavy industry facilities, when it comes to any new technology, it's mostly neat and clean. The producers realize that a shiny modern building might be an important element of promotion.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anybody dislike working in such a place? It's just as good as any other!
I haven't heard of anything as modern and nice as this in Poland. Maybe we haven't grown to this yet... I have noticed that polish entrepreneurs care more about anything that could lower the prices of production than such elements of marketing as an interesting building. There's still a long way before us.
To be honest I am not surprised that such factories are environmentally friendly since there is a general tendency to go eco. I am a strong supporter of building eco friendly factories in which people can feel good. I hope this trend will be continued and even in Poland we will have more such buildings and more factories that are eco friendly.
ReplyDeleteYes I would like to work in a factory like that since it in no way resembles the ones we have in Poland. Working in such a factory must be pleasure. I wish there were more factories like that in our country so that people could work in appropriate conditions
Unfortunately I do not know any such plants located in Poland since to me all the factories on the territory of Poland resemble prehistoric times. However, Poland is changing and in the nearest future we might have more eco friendly plants in which people work because it brings them joy and happiness and not because they have to work there because there is nowhere else to work.
Environmental friendly factories – that’s amazing. Yes, the stereotype of factory still is – many big dirty chimneys making dark clouds of smoke, trashes and wastes everywhere. It can be seen on the old polish movies like: “Ludzie bezdomni” or “Lalka”. But now everything is changing and that’s great. You know, I will consider working in every kind of a factory if they offer pretty good salary. Similar plant located in Poland? So, do we have any factories? Unfortunately I haven’t meet or heard of any.
ReplyDeleteJust about modern style of buildings. I’m very fascinated in BMW Factory in Munich (see pictures: http://www.mwerks.com/artman/publish/features/printer_540.shtml) It isn’t so new…but it has still modern and fresh style.
>Q: Are you surprised that bad, dirty, polluting >factories can be environmentally friendly and >exciting places to work?
ReplyDeleteI'm skeptical about the whole environmental-friendly. They maybe look nice and clean but (for example) I wonder how much energy is wasted during getting power through induction. I'm not physicist but I think that some percent of energy is wasted. So it is not eco-friendly just eye-candy. And don't be naive - corporations pretend to be eco-friendly because they see profit in it. The half-basement conception in wine factory is not designed to be environmental friendly it is designed to cut costs. :)
>Q: Would you consider working in a factory if it >was similar to these ones?
I never seen myself as factory worker. :D But I would love to design and implement something similar to VW's transparent factory. After watching the clip you got impression that factory lives by itself. Cool thing. Very good marketing move.
>Q: Do you know similar plants located in Poland?
I'm not much a traveler so I don't know any similar places. Also I think that will be many years till Poland has that surplus of money to invest. But I hope I'm wrong.
The coolest fabric is of course VW's. I wonder how much time they designed it. Because from the information in this article and the Internet I have the impression that it is work of a genius (or almost a genius). :)
Am I surprised? Yes and no :-) Yes - because factories are usually associated with pollutions. No - because of the very strict eco-norms that are in force in many counties and because of modern technologies that make things less damaging for nature. Beautiful architecture in industry is not startling at all. The bigger concern, the more money it spends on new buildings design :-)They want to show-off and they have income to spend on it.
ReplyDeleteI don't visit factories and unfortunately I can't find any good example of such pretty factory in Poland :-(
I could work in beautiful factory, why not :-)Of course, if they need somebody of my profession in this kind of place.
No, I am not surprised at all that there exist such factories as the listed ones. Nowadays, there is a tendency among companies to care more about the environment. However, I doubt it if they really care about it so much, I am sure it is more about creating the image of being environmentally-friendly in the eyes of the customers. Today people become more aware of the problems connected with their environment and with how those problems affect their lives. That's why those who can afford it are more interested in buying the products of company which does something to protect the environment. Organizing actions or sponsoring environmental care is therefore a method for more effective marketing. On the other hand, however, such modern factories and their infrastructure are beneficial for all people who work there. They have a much better working environment than those who work at dirty polluted places.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to me, if I planned to be a factory worker I would be happy to work at such a nice and modern plant where I could enjoy fresh air and sunshine coming through glass walls, as well as a lot of facilities that would make my work easier. I have other plans for my future so I won't elaborate more on this topic. As far as I know, there are still not many factories of this kind in Poland. Those that exist cannot be compared to those mentioned in your presentation though. There is an UPM Raflatac factory in Biskupice Podgórne near Wrocław. This company is manufacturing label materials for different purposes and was awarded a global ISO 14001 certificate for environmental care. You can read more about this company here:
http://www.upmraflatac.com/europe/pol/images/66_70990.pdf.
I am also not surprised I just regret that probably in Poland (I don't know but I think it is like that) there are a few factories like those one you have mentioned.
ReplyDeleteI have watched some reportage on Discovery channel about building for 250k. people which was palnned to be built in Shanghai (due to huge number of people and high density because of relatively small territory). This building was going to be 'green' - it would take energy from everything it is possible and produce it into other energy, it was going to take water from rain - process it so that it could be used by people etc. and many other interesting things - a lot of technology and nice architecture but there were so many obstacles connected with it that this project was suspended.
I'm not surprised that this factories can be environmentally friendly. Nowadays many factories and companies becomes eco. It seems to me that in this way they want to attract more people.
ReplyDeleteI don't see myself as a factories worker and I don't know any similar places in Poland
I’m not surprised as well as most people here. I saw many „clean” factories (yes, on tv) but mostly they were located in Japan. It is strange to see that cars are produced by man in white suites on the white floor.. It was few years ago and I remember how I was amazed by this fact. I think nowadays it’s very hard to find „dirty” factory, because like Jakub said „Dirty and mean factories have become a relict of the past.”, especially among large companies and corporations (BHP rules etc). So once again, I’m not suprised! ;)
ReplyDeleteWorking in a factory? It depends what I would do there. When I was a kid I always wanted to design cars.. So if someone offered me this job, I'd definitely take it.
Do I know similar plants located in Poland?
Hmm, I tried to do some research on the internet but with no results.. ;(
I'm not surprised that modern companies care about the environment.
ReplyDeleteMany of them compete among themselves in order to maximize
its contribution to environmental protection.
They have it written into the strategic objectives of the company.
Honestly, I think companies don't do that for the environment
but rather to improve their reputation.
I heard that Lafarge Company and SGGW in Warsaw signed an agreement on cooperation
in the researching and implementing of new technologies for land reclamation.
Wow! Nice ! Some of those factories looked to me more like good hotels.
ReplyDeleteSince when factory is suppossed to look beatifull? It has to produce things as efficient as possible, and for me it's waste of money.
ReplyDeleteheyy,,nice looking factories? why not?! we live in such a depressive world, let's color it a little;)
ReplyDeleteoh and I would love to work in the Mahle Metal Leve Tech Center! I could even be just a cleaner there:)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely yes, for a nice-looking behemoths factory instead of frightening.
ReplyDeleteWorking in such a factory is definitely more pleasant than in large, cold walls, with a 10 cm layer of dust on the walls.
Very well that entrepreneurs tend to the economic mode of operation of factories, because it prolongs the life of our planet:)
It's amazing how that wooden floor looks in that car factory. I didn't
ReplyDeleteknow such factories existed, I'm really surprised, actually.
The new design of the plants is interesting, and probably very nice and
comfortable for the workers. Though I'm sure I would not like to
work in any kind of factory, even factories similar to these.
The concern for wine is also very astounding and amazing as a
building, but I think I like traditional places better (where wine is
produced in a traditional way, that is, where fruits are growing in
strong sun, and wine is collected in dark basement in barrels. I
think such places have a very specific soul, in a way).
The old fashioned design of buildings could be very interesting as
well in my opinion. Sometimes I really like to go to visit some
abandoned industrial buildings to see the architecture, draw or
imagine how it looked when it teemed with life.
http://www.opuszczone.net/kwk-walbrzych/
http://www.opuszczone.net/chemitex-sochaczew/
There is many more factories like this you mentioned in your post. It is quite interesting how design is going with sience. Now people can spend huge amont of money only because something looks nice. Same happened with buildings, factiries too. Huge modern building is for company business card, and puts them higher social level. People seeing this buildings think "Wow, this company must be great. I'd love to work where!" , and so on.
ReplyDeleteHere you can see a short movie about McLaren factory. Lector tells about design and a purpose of creating such a art builgings:
http://www.moto-portal.pl/Filmy/pokazPodobne/Mclaren_factory/2tah3ciWHWE
I've seen the Volkswagen factory in Dresden and it looks really nice. There are some other nice factories in Germany, but I don't remember their locations now.
ReplyDeleteFactories are of course about making money, so in most cases they look nice only at companies who have to care about their image or have too much money. :)
I've heard about one interesting place in Poland. It's maybe not a factory, but a data center, but it's located on the bottom of a shopping mall and the heat produced by thousands of servers is used to heat the shopping mall. I'm talking about Beyond located in Poznań.
In Poland we have few such plants like these. Factories in Poland looks like metal boxes into which we do not have access from the outside because we never can see what happened inside. When I hear pollution - first I think about the factories, but now the European Union forces that those emissions were minimized and more environmentally friendly. I like the factory written by you, but if I want to work here? There are many factors that influence this decision, so I do not know. I have not seen such factories in Poland, but I hope that one day I see:)
ReplyDelete