Admittedly, I may just be posting this due to the amazing and theatrical atmosphere of that opening photo… not to mention fond memories of the maple syrup sugar shacks back home… but this really is a nice project. A sugar factory in China, it’s designed with great dual purposes in mind: be all it needs to be for the three months of the year when production occurs and be available for a multitude of uses by the community during the rest.
To that end, the complex consists of several high-bay corrugated steel sheds, crisscrossed with generous bands of glass and assembled into a cluster of enclosed and open spaces, themselves crisscrossed by walkways and loggias. Nestled up against the fields that supply the raw material, it engages both the land and the people that converge to make the magic.
Etched glass walkways let visitors see the production when it’s in full swing, while the covered and open-air courtyards provide ample space for all manner of activities organized by the townspeople, including daily tea, films, puppet theaters, community meals, and dances.
Steel, wood, and carefully placed brick combine well to give a rugged yet refined feel to the complex, while the windows and many pathways easily guide you throughout, and allow for chance encounters.
Great work. A factory that’s amazing for the workers, and amazing for the town.
Lynx Thoughts 