Jan Kinsbergen Architekten . Kivinen Rusanen Architects
Selected entry for the competition won by Penzel Valier.
The concept of the project symbolizes the idea of a clean factory, presenting a high-tech machine in contrast to the landscape. With this machine aesthetic, the project connects to the tradition of the 1960s exemplified by architects like Piano, Rogers, and Foster, particularly referencing the Centre Pompidou as an icon. The project expresses itself less as a conventional industrial facility (KVA) and more like a university laboratory or a clinic. This clinical approach offers a positive interpretation of the task at hand.
The ensemble creates a clear unity within its surroundings. The strength of the project lies in the fusion of space (ARA) and building (KVA). The relatively uniform height and consistent materiality convey a balanced urban expression. The base of the ARA rooftop park and the workers’ garden appropriately anchors the ensemble to the surrounding landscape. The ARA tower, with its distinct geometry, along with the office building, forms the representative part of the complex and serves as the connection between ARA and KVA.
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