Kirsch Pharma HealthCare based in Wedemark, Germany, specialises in the production of finished pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, oral dosage forms, for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, biotechnology, veterinary and cosmetic industries.
The brand needed a new look for the site of their factory and headquarters which was basically an anonymous industrial zone lacking distinctive aesthetics. South African‐based architectural firm SAOTA approached the project with a focus on rethinking the often underwhelming and generic industrial prototype of the pharmaceutical and production industry.
While the office areas maintain an essentially rectangular form, consisting of a reception area, boardrooms and a conference room, SAOTA contrasts the office building and the factory building with a striking, bold and futuristic sculptural canopy hovering over its main face and entrance.
The contrast between the canopy’s outer shell, in graphite grey-coloured zinc cladding and the red powder-coated custom-made aluminium soffit, which extends indoors and runs through the foyer to form a feature backdrop wall for the reception counter towards the rear of room, emphasises the warm and inviting quality of the interiors, imparting a conscious experience in visitors of being invited into Kirsch Pharma HealthCare’s world.
The fact that Kirsch Pharma HealthCare’s office building is outward-looking, as opposed to the generally inward‐looking factory buildings, also sets it apart, allowing natural light into the interior while providing views that facilitate a sense of connection to its park‐like landscaped setting.
Overall the architecture, interior design and landscaping by SAOTA tell a story and sets the tone for future possibilities within industrial architecture.
Pictures by Adam Letch
