Revitalizing Iranian Architectural Methods in Industrial Design

Shamim Polymer Factory: A Blend of Traditional Patterns and Modern Innovation

The inspiration behind the design of the Shamim Polymer factory was drawn from various factors such as the desired spatial quality, local architecture, climate, and the exposed usage of materials. Boroojeni believes that the beautiful, innovative, and useful architecture of the factory is the result of simultaneously considering these factors in the project design.

The unique properties of this project lie in its attempt to increase the sense of connecting spaces to improve the quality of life of factory workers. The concept of this complex took place in two outdoor void spaces perpendicular to each other. The geometry of these void spaces makes separation of different parts possible and acts as a middle courtyard for connecting different areas with each other. Human dimensions, open air, light and shadow, green space, and color increase the sense of the middle courtyard.

The design realization technology borrows from specific patterns for organizing building plans from the past. The middle courtyard and the cruciform axes are two important patterns in Iranian architecture. The prediction of these two patterns in the architectural design of this project is an attempt to revitalize these two Iranian architectural methods in industrial uses.

The project proposal is related to a factory for the production of polymeric materials. The factory has a production, office, and research department. The project land, approximately square-like (60 meters long and 50 meters wide), is limited to the neighbor in the north and west and to the street in the south and east. This land, with an area of three thousand square meters, is located in a small industrial town in Alborz province of Iran.

The design team, led by Principal Architect Davood Boroojeni, included Saba Ammari, Hamed Kalateh, Bardia Khafaf, Hamidreza Nikzad, Mohsen Jafari, Amir Salamat, Barbod Mokhtari, and Emran Nazarian. The project started in May 2019 and finished in November 2020.

The Shamim Polymer factory design was awarded Silver in A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2021. This prestigious award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.