lafarge dalsan plasterboard factory

The Lafarge Dalsan Plasterboard Factory was designed by AZAKSU Architects. With its distinctive image the building stands out from among the other industrial buildings in the area. Support and cooperation from the firm's owners in deciding on this distinction, the meticulous approach during the construction phase, and architectural awareness and sensitivity were key factors.
Since Lafarge Dalsan pursues a policy of competition based on product pricing in the sector, the company focuses on world scale know-how and technology production combined with aesthetic and environmental sensitivity. In this respect new technologies being used in Turkey for the first time are applied at the Gebze plant, as in all the company's plants. In view of steadily diminishing water resources, the Gebze plant incorporates water saving technology that makes use of rainwater and recycles the factory's production waste water. In line with its Waste Management Plan, implemented at all its plants, the company sorts all its waste materials and sends them to recycling firms that have contracts with the Ministry of the Environment. All its plasterboard products use 100% recyclable paper. The design process for the Lafarge Dalsan Plasterboard Factory' began by evaluating both conventional as well as all kinds of alternative design methods. The design was expected to achieve two main objectives: to hold up a mirror to its environment rather than be part of the existing picture, and by taking this different design stance being a defining element in the character of the physical land development that is going on in the area; and by discarding all elements that were unnecessary for comfort and construction rendering the details meaningful, purpose-driven and functional, and so achieving "transparent" architecture. Lafarge Dalsan Plasterboard Factory's "transparent" image was achieved by means of a load-bearing system that made the form of the building possible and by a surface facing that made the form virtually flawless. The spatial dimensions were determined by the form's production process and requirements deriving from the specifications The building's shape and size were achieved by lengthening, raising, multiplying and repeating a single basic component.
In designing the architectural image the production process as defined by the producer’s specifications was taken as the basis, and this also determined the physical shape of the space. Ensuring the comfort of all the employees and eliminating the hierarchy between labour force and managers were the defining factors for the spatial qualities. All employees were seen as cogs in the production process in both interpretation of the programme and the spatial layout....

Aksu A.,
    “Lafarge Dalsan Plasterboard Factory”
    “Lafarge Dalsan Alçı Levha Fabrikası”