Planstone Industrial Pavilion designed b|Warehouse

The Portugal-based architectural and design studio Paulo Martins Arquitectura & design has recently completed "Planstone" an industrial warehouse that located in Águeda, Portugal.

Project description by the architects: This industrial warehouse is located in Águeda, Portugal, in an area without any architectural references and surrounded by forest. With no relevant references and a layout which consists of a warehouse area for finished product storage, a cargo area and office space, the proposal is intended to reflect the simplicity of the solution, given the simplicity of the requirements.

Starting from the shape, a rectangle, which enables the use of the maximum warehouse area (main function), a fraction of that space is reserved for the offices, in the area closest to the entrance. This office area marks the entrance of the building. This element is an exception, being that it is a monolithic, simple and unpretentious element.

This exception arises from the deformation of the original shape, inspired by one of the techniques used by the company in the manufacture of shower bases and bathtubs, vacuum forming. This deformation expresses an extremely strong visual art language, accentuated by the use of white, in contrast to the dark grey of the remaining pavilion and the similarity to the whitish colour which plastic materials acquire when they are deformed.

Equally deformed is the checked mesh, originally superimposed on the space, expressing a language which accentuates the deformation and creates a visual and formal dynamic, reinforcing the humanised character of the offices.

Continuing the language used outdoors, the materials used inside are uniform and neutral in tone, with a touch of warmth achieved through the use of oak, giving a more domestic character to the space, but without breaking with the room’s main function, that of an industrial pavilion. For this reason, there is a permanent visual contact with the pavilion and its warehouse function. This contact is taken to the extreme by a vast and continuous glass wall in the reception area, demonstrating traces of exhibitionism and professional pride. These moments are repeated throughout the area, also highlighting the pantry window, similar to a moving frame.

The formalisation of this pavilion is based on contrasts, as a form of valorisation and humanisation of spaces, whether industrial, commercial or residential.