Office block by modostudio

A headquarters and logistics center whose glazed base appears to support a faceted concrete façade.

The project is located in the city of Nola, Campania, in a strategic industrial area well connected and visible from the highway. One of the requests of the client was a high-visibility and recognizable project that could represent the fashion company, Giorgia & Johns, which is headquartered in the building.

The project, despite the extreme simplicity of its composition, aims to transmit the values of innovation, technology, and comfort. The south façade, behind which more than 2000 square meters of company offices reside, became a key element of the project.

A series of panels of reinforced concrete with a pattern of rhomboidal masses characterizes the facade for the whole 60-meter length. This texture, reminiscent of megalithic structures, is more than 7.5 meters high and is suspended by a steel framework connected to the envelope.

The windows are made with voids in the concrete panels, connected back to the envelope through metal folds. A large glass curtain wall characterizes the offices on the ground floor accentuating the strong image of the façade above.

The offices, located in the southern part of the building, occupy two floors. The first floor hosts the reception area, which is located in a barycentric zone from where employees and customers access various areas of the company: marketing, administration, design, product, retail, management, and the showroom.
A three-dimensional tectonic façade rests on a transparent and light base letting the new headquarters for a clothing company in Nola’s industrial suburbs.
A three-dimensional tectonic façade rests on a transparent and light base letting the new headquarters for a clothing company in Nola’s industrial suburbs.
The offices were designed to ensure maximum flexibility. Modular floating floors and lighting systems make it possible to change the internal layout of workplaces. Vertical partitions, made of structural glass, aim to improve the natural light inside the building. Neutral colors and lightness of the interior materials will give a very relaxing atmosphere.
The vertical connections are light elements suspended in space.
The vertical connections are light elements suspended in space.
From the office windows the employees will be able to enjoy a spectacular view of Mount Vesuvius thanks to careful view studies made during the design phase. The offices are directly connected with the logistics area of 11,500 square meters is capable storing and handling of materials for the more than 100 showrooms of the company in Italy and Europe.
The ambitiously textures façade and integration with architectural elements such as steel shelters were the baseline for a project characterized by a low budget that is still able to maintain a high architectural value.
Detail of the south façade with reinforced concrete panels that are both angled and in relief.
Detail of the south façade with reinforced concrete panels that are both angled and in relief.
The project was intended to experiment with new architectural solutions for a technology—precast concrete technology—that is difficult to manage. The ambitiously textures façade and integration with architectural elements such as steel shelters were the baseline for a project characterized by a low budget that is still able to maintain a high architectural value.
The direct juxtaposition of the two types of façade cladding, flat and in relief.
The direct juxtaposition of the two types of façade cladding, flat and in relief.
Giorgia & Johns offices and logistic center

Design: modostudio—cibinel laurenti martocchia architetti associati
Client: Giorgia & Johns Spa
Building area: 13.760 sq m; offices 2.260 sq m; logistics and laboratories 11.500 sq m
Site area: 20.235 sq m
Building cost: € 5.500.000,00
Year: 2008–2011
Consultants: engineering and coordination; Studio Visone & Associati
Contractor: Edilizia Cinquestelle + Canova Prefabbricati
Lighting Systems: iGuzzini Spa
Wall system: Boffa arredamenti
Office furniture: Sinetica
Curtain Walling: Ales Alluminio
Rubber Flooring: REMP
The façade with its 'megalithic' elements is suspended by means of a steel frame connected to the interior structure.
The façade with its 'megalithic' elements is suspended by means of a steel frame connected to the interior structure.
The first floor offices have a view of Vesuvius through angled windows.
The first floor offices have a view of Vesuvius through angled windows.
Raised floors and modular lighting systems give flexibility to the workspaces.
Raised floors and modular lighting systems give flexibility to the workspaces.
A clear spatial layout was the designated response to the multifunctional program.
A clear spatial layout was the designated response to the multifunctional program.

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