Revolutionizing Industrial Design: The Bzj Textile Factory

Kerem Akin's Award-Winning Design Balances Function and Aesthetics in Industrial Architecture

The Bzj Textile Factory, designed by Kerem Akin, is a harmonious blend of different sections - production plant, offices, and showroom. Akin's inspiration was to create a homogenous object in terms of both the building's different sections and its exterior appearance. The factory's interaction with the land shapes the building and the ground, manifesting itself through the facade. The factory's unique double facade controls natural lighting and climate changes, making it environmentally friendly.

The factory's realization was achieved through a prefabricated concrete structural system, chosen for its speed and economic efficiency. This structural feature was incorporated into the design, leaving all structural, electrical, and mechanical systems open to view in the administration area. The custom-designed furniture, predominantly mid-century in style, adds a sense of fun, color, comfort, and elegance to the offices and showrooms.

The Bzj Textile Factory, with a total floor area of 8000 m2, combines production, distribution, and administrative functions under one roof. The operation in the factory is divided into two main sections; production and administration/operation. The circulation between these sections occurs in four types; blue-collars, white-collars, material/products, and customers. These different circulations are integrated into the factory's design to provide maximum privacy and minimum conflict.

The project was completed in 18 months in Bursa, Turkey. The design process involved visiting and analyzing existing factories in the area to understand the workflow and operations. The problematic existing flows were redesigned within the concept to provide complete privacy and protect intellectual properties. As the corner land faces south and east, the control of natural lighting was researched. According to the sun's track and the purposes of the spaces within the factory, the perforated second facade was designed.

The creative challenge was to use a very standard prefabricated concrete structural system, which was common for industrial buildings in the region. This challenge was accepted and adopted as a design input. The other challenge was to remove the bulkiness of the general factories. The second facade covers the upper part of the factory, giving the heavy concrete structure a certain lightness. The perforated facade refracts the light at different angles according to the sun's position, blocking out the heat while adding dynamics to the space and offering occupants privacy from the outside.

The Bzj Textile Factory's innovative design has not gone unnoticed. It 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.