LUPICIA Shiga Factory
36-7 Hinokigaoka, Mizuguchi, Koka, Shiga, JAPAN
Eaves covering the "Stage"
| Architect | Furuya Nobuaki+NASCA |
|---|---|
| Usage | Factory |
| Structure | S |
| Size | 2F |
| Site area | 8,311m2 |
| Area | 4,247m2 |
| Completion | 2012.11 |
| Publishing | Shinkenchiku 2013.07 |
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake, LUPICIA company planned to establish a new production base outside the Kanto region. The company used to produce tea leaves for blended teas in the Utsunomiya factory in Tochigi. A consistent line had been clearly arranged from raw material delivery to foreign matter removal, blending, drying, packaging and shipping.
In response to the request - ‘We want a factory in which the workers can enjoy their labor and feel job satisfaction’ – I decided to make a ‘stage’ in front of such a factory where employees can always work with pride in a pleasant environment. Usually, the eaves are put up with the purpose of covering the loading bay. However, I wanted the ‘stage’ and eaves to play the part of a brilliant background scene, behind which all the procedures of tea-leaf production are transacted, as in a picture scroll. Therefore, the ‘stage’ and eaves had to be integrated into the factory building.
The long corridor space at the back of the building is not only for the staff to move from section to section, but also a resting space during work hours. As the corridor is properly air-conditioned, it can be used for people from different sections to interact with each other and for visitor tours.
The pictograms are designed by Toru TERUSAWA.
The production line, which can be identified as the principal organ of the factory, was arranged from South to North at the innermost part of the building, aiming at effective production and processing. Since there is a lot of dust in the tea leaves, we used stainless steel for the inside walls, as it does not allow the particles to adhere to its surface. All the panels, including in the warehouse, are positioned vertically so that they do not gather dust.
The employee meeting and lunch rooms are located on the 2nd floor so that one can enjoy the mountain view in the distance.
The shape of the large eaves covering the ‘stage’ is calculated after measuring the necessary dimensions for rain protection for a 10t truck to load and unload.
Along with the multi-colored ALC panel walls on both the Southern and Northern sides of the building, the factory has a distinctive look and is easily distinguishable in the large industrial complex.
Photos: Asakawa Satoshi