African Design Magazine May 2015 | Page 55

International project: Aimer Factory envisioned a factory environment that attends to the well-being of workers and administration employees equally. By cutting a void in the building and placing a communal deck set at level +13m, the doubled public space crossing ground floor and the deck allows air to better circulate horizontally and vertically along the curved inner facade. The use of top-hinged glass windows along the inner facade maximize the amount of natural light that shines into both manufacturing and office areas. This timbered deck therefore serves as a bridge to bring administration and workers to stroll and relax in the same place. “We have to break away from the imprisoning working environment, moving from disciplining workers to engaging communication and breathing within the factories,” said principal Hao Dong. Branding lingerie: Speaking about seduction through architecture Since Aimer intends to use the building for events, showcasing and industry conferences, Crossboundaries’s deep understanding of Aimer’s vision later led to designing the building’s interior, landscape and signage for a consistent image that reflects the essence of lingerie. Although the industrial nature of the facility is addressed with galvanized aluminium and concrete on the outer and inner façade respectively, the aluminium panles were designed with vertical fins africandesignmagazine.com 55