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The project combines administration and production components of Motorgas, a firm specializing in cogeneration units. The L-shape site geometry became the point of reference and accommodated all organizational diagrams. The generic volume, therefore, became an L-shape figure which then attained specific identity with the insertion of both conceptual and programmatic components. Four components were investigated: 1. the administration, 2. the production, 3. the circulation, 4. the movement generators. All components were specifically delineated either by volume, material or color reflecting the identity of Motorgas. The more conceptual component, the movement generator, consists of three sculptural elements - the grand stair, the boiler room, and the bridge - which manifest both corporate color (red and grey) and mechanical movement (people and services). The administration component is placed on two levels on the southern side of the site (the longer L leg) and extended over the production component on the eastern side, culminating as a cantilevered office for the design engineers. It is delineated by naturally colored, cembonite panels. The production component is located on the eastern side of the site (the shorter L leg) and rendered in fair-face masonry blocks. Its main feature is a double height hall where the cogenerator units are brought in by a 10 ton crane and assembled to completion. The circulation component is defined by a glazed, two level entry lobby on the southern side and a western corridor/gallery hall connecting the administration and production components. Originally, this hall was designed to have a fully glazed, exterior wall (like the main lobby) but was modified during design development and minimized by intermediate sandwiched panels at the client’s request.
