In a large industrial complex, devastated and rocky, HOLCIM S.A. is transforming a desert into a green, pleasant industrial estate. In order to achieve these objectives, we have designed the landscaping and the different buildings that make up this spatial unit on an enjoyable scale, surrounded by patios and gardens, instead of creating “the large” corporate building, which would have a significant environmental impact.

HOLCIM, a company devoted to the production of cement and other construction materials, entrusted us with the construction of a building that would reflect the potential of their materials, without becoming a collection of samples. We designed a variety of novel options that reflect sophisticated applications of rustic materials in nature, combining these with very light fabrics that soften the tectonics of the cement-like materials; we have also included lightweight elements to regulate solar radiation and lower the heat load of the building, devoid of air conditioning. We took advantage of the rock-strewn nature of the terrain, using original boulders for the landscape design: a metaphor, we believe, for the solidness of the company and the toughness of the materials it manufactures. We also took advantage of the trees remaining on site and planted 500 more, for reforestation purposes as well as to restore the natural habitat of the native flora and fauna.