SUBdV's factory and office annex in são paulo combines tropical + digital aesthetics

for the CoBLOgó factory and office annex  developed by architecture studio SUBdV in são paulo, the design is characterized by a ‘highlow’ fusion, combining high-tech architectural design strategies imported from abroad with local low-tech construction to create a ‘tropicalized’ digital aesthetic. parametric design, digital environmental simulation, and digital fabrication were employed to design and prepare the instructional guides for a low-tech labor force using simple local materials to construct a parametrically rotating concrete-block façade screen, as well as custom-made digitally fabricated furniture and internal wall panels.

front view of CoBLOgó
all images © rodrigo chust

the overall intent of SUBdV was to provide an economical, environmentally sensitive, yet novel design that highlights a contemporary industrial identity to the factory complex. the annex building houses various programs on a split level site in front of an existing factory in the são paulo industrial suburb of taboão da serra. the double-height ground floor space contains a new mechanized-loaded raw material storage facility, the first and second floors are dedicated to administrative office space for the factory, while the last floor is a show-room for factory products.

perspective view of the main facade

this is the first time in brazil that a differentiating component-based façade system is built using digital design and fabrication. in reference to the traditional brazilian ‘cobogo’ shading screen, this environmental ‘second skin’ controls the filtration of indirect sun-light through the operable windows on the south and west facades, while also creating a thermal mass which prevents the penetration of hot air in the interior spaces. the north side of the new annex is connected to the existing factory building, while the east façade is partially shaded by the trees and neighboring wall, and open to prevailing wind directions which allow for a cross natural ventilation of the space. the interiors are thus cool and bathed in a bright diffused natural light highlighted by a phenomenological play of shadow and light along the circulation spaces in the late afternoon.

internal view showing the digitally designed perforated wall panels

on the other hand, parametric computation and digital fabrication were used to create decorative wall panels, stair guard-rails and the furniture for the office. the digitally designed perforated wall panels and guard-rails were conceived so to absorb sound in the open-plan of the new office layout, giving a multi-colored and textured aesthetic to the industrial monochromatic concrete framework. all the wall panels and guard rails, as well as the components of the furniture were cut using the CNC router, and detailed with CNC milled box-joints, avoiding the use of metal hardware — thus creating a playful aesthetic. the tables offer a two-sided arrangement with an embedded channel in the middle for electric cables, and central dividing panels for privacy between users.

interior view of office showing scattered sunlight pattern on the ambience

furniture and main facade protecting from direct sunlight

office furniture is exclusively developed for the project

detail of perspective

special furniture and decorative wall panels created with digital fabrication technology

construction site: the assembly and structuring of the concrete blocks wall

a wooden guide helps to correctly place the concrete blocks in a high-low system of design and construction

project info:

lead architect: SUBdv architectural design (franklin lee, anne save de beaurecueil, joseph swan, victor sardenberg, orion campos, renata portelada and fabricio gomes)
structural engineer: projetec
MEP engineer: william de vianna
contractor: udemar empreiteira
concrete block installation/mason: lenox (mason dodinha)
furniture: SUBdv (franklin lee, anne save de beaurecueil and orion campos)

glazing: coelho metal esquadrias
welding: claudio moreira
millwork: francisco de andrade

location: taboão da serra, SP
site area: 3.000 sq.m
building area: 500 sq.m
date: 2013-2014

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom