An agricultural business has different requirements than a typical company based in an urban environment. This can present a unique set of challenges for planners when envisioning an alignment of operations and staff at headquarters that support a range of functions.
When Impeccable Studio was used to design a hub for the seed processing company Agrosemillasthe team adopted certain constraints and looked to the landscape and construction elements for inspiration. “The site is in an industrial setting, so instead of importing a foreign language, we wanted to work with what was already there—materials, scale and atmosphere,” says Gabriela Barrera, co-founder of Impepinable Studio.
Located in El Peral, Spain, the complex includes more than 48,000 square feet of new production and storage facilities, built with the help of local craftsmen who were responsible for the metalwork, carpentry and plumbing that shaped the zones built to withstand the dust-heavy environment.
Four reused shipping containers rest on a concrete plinth shared with adjacent warehouses. Skylights give a soft glow to the interior, while the north orientation of the open levels ensures a constant flow of light. The green and yellow colors of Agrosemillas emerge on the gray facade distinguished by circular gates. These windows are protected by manual shutters that act almost like basic levers, which create a sense of opening or closing as required.
Three bands organize the design in a grid style. The first is dedicated to open work areas, another to service areas and the third section includes meeting rooms and laboratory facilities. Inputs are separated according to logistical flows to maximize efficiency. Oak paneling and furniture provide a warm complement to the steel frames. The roof surfaces incorporate strips for experimental crops, which naturally connect research, construction and architecture into a single framework.
This bustling center houses its own infrastructure that transcends typology. “It was less about designing an office and more about rethinking what a workplace could be in that context. This mindset gave us the freedom to explore a playful approach,” notes Barrera. “The project is spatially rich, while remaining extremely simple and orderly.”
To see this and other works by the company, visit undistracted.studio.
Photo courtesy of OF RIO BANI.
