Sagiper II

This project aims to increase, and transform, the industrial building of Sagiper – Produção e Comercialização de Perfis em PVC, Lda., located at the Industrial Area of Vagos. This pretension intents to increase the production area and, at the same time, improve the living conditions of the building, to provide workers, and customers, wider spaces, better light, and ventilation, better finishes, new technologies equipment and, above all, where Sagiper’s products gain unquestionable prominence.
In the meeting between the pre-existing building and the new building, it is intended to build a smaller volume, in width and height, which will result in a “timid” union that guarantees, at the same time, the proper interpretation of the phases of the building, assuming the distinction between the new body and the old one.
The new building will take the “new factory”, since there will be configured the new main entrance, all the administrative spaces, personnel spaces, as well as the production area, and respective storage of raw material; being the old building only destined to the use of warehouse for produced material.

The complete assembly is assumed to be one, characterized by the use of the same facade cladding material, the corrugated graphite-colored sheet.
The proposed modification of the pre-existing building boils down to the application of an exterior “dressing”, a second skin in the openings, which will standardize the overall image of this volume, so that it assumes the secondary character in the whole, respecting its new use as a warehouse for produced material. This skin will be executed with a metallic structure, coated with perforated corrugated sheet, to guarantee the continuity of the light. These elements move away from the facade plane, allowing the windows to continue to be open and thus ensure the continuity of ventilation.
On the other hand, the new building will have almost no openings to the exterior, being an exception to this rule the entrance to the lobby, which is made of glass to invite to enter, as well as the meeting room window, which invites reflection on what goes on “out there”, symbolizing the industrial competition.

It is, therefore, proposed a concentrated building, which turns to itself, in a game of relevance of the interior character in detriment of the exterior spectacularity.
But the new building does not fail to communicate with the exterior surroundings, since the variation of heights of the main facade reveals the character of the interior use, to assume, without doubts, the current point of entry into the building.
There is also the timely application of a different material on the main facade, namely Sagiwall rulers – PVC pieces, coated with various types of films (imitation wood, metals, etc.). This material, one of the products produced by Sagiper, will be applied to the façade at strategic points, namely in the entrance lobby, as well as in the corridor that allows the separation / union of the new building with the old one.
The application of this material on the main facade will have the function of an exterior and public showroom, so that anyone approaching the building, without exception, may have contact with one of the materials produced.
This material will be seasonally replaced by strips coated with different films, being able to follow trends, show innovations or, simply, vary the chromatic option of that pointing of the facade, allowing this facade to be transformed with time.

On the inside, the new building is developed by a main concept: the “green heart”. This “heart” is an interior patio, uncovered, and with vegetation, that provides a generous entrance of light into the building.
It is located between the lobby and the zone of production, all in glass, to allow a direct visual relation between these spaces, inviting to know what there is produced.
This exterior green area is also a meeting point, since there are proposed two small volumes, clad in sagiwall, each with a table for a small meeting, for who wants to be more relaxed.
So, it is another showroom where customers can have a direct contact with the material there produced, seeing it directly applied in a real environment.
This showroom, which starts at the front façade and ends at the green heart, is also developed in the lobby, where it is possible to find Sagiper materials applied in an interior context.
The lobby is developed in open-space, where several smaller volumes are arranged in an apparently random manner. Each volume corresponds to a specific use, such as reception, office rooms or toilets. All these volumes form a set of pieces part of a whole – the generous lobby – with double height to overlook the green heart.
This open, free, and accessible lobby is therefore a true showroom, where visitors can contemplate and interact with the materials that cover the existing volumes, while assimilating information about the way those products are produced, through the visual contact to the manufacturing zone.
In short, this project achieves the connection between the interior spaces, being turned to itself to reinforce the teamwork.
On the other hand, to this inner relation is added the intention to “sell” the product, through an industry that is a constant showroom, to evidence its best products.