The BayKer group (well known for Iperceramica brand) entrusts the design of its headquarters to MCA, Mario Cucinella Architects, a firm actively engaged in compliance with the COP 21 Paris Agreement. The building – built with disassemblable solutions and using green materials – represents a sort of DFMA (Design for Manufacturing and Assembly) manifesto, an approach both focused on environmental sustainability and reduction in construction times and consequent pollution.
The new HQ is located in Fiorano Modenese (MO) and occupies about 1,700 square meters spread over two floors. It is a minimal, functional and amazing architecture, characterized by a large covering “sail” overhanging from the perimeter of the building, based on the orientation.
The building perfectly responds to the requests presented to MCA by BayKer Italia which, with its Iperceramica brand, is the largest Italian chain specialized in the sale of flooring, cladding, parquet, sanitary ware and bathroom furniture and in the realization of turnkey renovations with the subsidiary company. RistrutturaSMART.
“After these years of strong growth we needed a new headquarters. – declares Corrado Neri, President of BayKer Italia – We wanted a workplace where working well and willingly: a place that facilitates communication between people, bright with a high quality of life.
We wanted a low impact building that uses the most modern technologies. We also wanted a tangible sign of the importance that design and aesthetics have for us. We are very satisfied, from all these points of view ”.
“The building represents a journey that began two years ago, the creation of contemporary architecture centered on people working there. – explains architect Mario Cucinella – In a period in which it needs to rethink spaces focused on wellbeing, the new Iperceramica headquarters is an example of the awareness of Italian entrepreneurs about the importance of the workplace in terms of employees’ quality of life. Furthermore, designing flexible buildings simply assembled allows comfort through natural resources and to reduces CO2 emissions as required by the Paris Agreement“.
Indoor comfort and employee wellbeing were key concepts in the development of the project, starting with the iconic cantilevered roof that arises from solar analysis and allows the transparent facades to be protected from sunlight and radiation.
The large windows of the shell offer maximum permeability of natural light and stimulating views both towards the outside and towards the internal patio where trees of various species are planted.
Photo by Giovanni De Sandre (courtesy MCA)