In 2009 Siza was commissioned to design The Building on the Water as an office building for the company’s soda ash and ammonium chloride production plant in Huai’An City. A total of 11,000 square meters (118.403 square feet) is distributed on two floors connected with bridges. It follows a 300-meter long curve and combines flowing forms with orthogonal volumes. While boasting dynamic spatial relationships, the building appears to be in harmony with its surroundings-viewed from the mainland, it conveys a sense of quiet beauty which can rarely be found in industrial buildings.
Related: Álvaro Siza’s Renovated Carlos Ramos Pavilion is a Contemplative Studio for Architecture Students
The structure blends with the waterscape and features green roofs on some of its sections. Long ribbon windows allow daylight to penetrate the minimalist interiors and create an almost ethereal quality. The building is scheduled to open on 30 August, 2014, and may well go down in history as the most beautiful chemical plant on Earth.
+ Álvaro Siza
Via Dezeen
Photos by Fernando Guerra – ÚLTIMAS REPORTAGENS | FG+SG
