![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography, Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/b52d/63c0/178e/ee00/09cf/newsletter/25.jpg?1600173315)
-
Architects: Design Unit Architects Sdn Bhd
- Area: 15000 m²
- Year: 2017
-
Photographs:Lin Ho Photography
-
Manufacturers: AutoDesk, ISEO Asia, Moonlight Industries, Trimble Navigation, WCEC Group, Zenith Project Sdn Bhd
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a7fc/63c0/178c/4900/0c70/newsletter/1.jpg?1600169940)
Text description provided by the architects. Architectural competition winning entry for an electronics manufacturing plant. This site is conceived as a forest that penetrates, surrounds & steps over the building creating maximum contact with nature – green, breeze, scent, sound, touch. A canopy supported by a ‘forest’ of columns creates unity to office & courtyard while giving protection from the tropical sun. Office levels give access to roof gardens and staff are encouraged out for breaks, meetings or just contemplation.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography, Glass](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a868/63c0/178c/4900/0c74/newsletter/6.jpg?1600170042)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Image 32 of 35](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/baa6/63c0/178e/ee00/09ee/newsletter/3.jpg?1600174560)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Interior Photography, Table, Chair, Windows, Beam](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/ac5c/63c0/178c/4900/0c8a/newsletter/19.jpg?1600171055)
A green courtyard separates the office & factory with views and access from both. A bridge over the courtyard links the office & production & this circulation route becomes a space for meetings, breaks & lectures. The factory has views to landscape & the sky condition through full height & clerestory glazing with glazing protected from the sun by free-standing off-form concrete fins and roof louvers. Rainwater cascades from roof spouts - heightening awareness to tropical storms, to storage tanks for landscape irrigation.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Interior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/b470/63c0/178c/4900/0ca2/medium_jpg/23.jpg?1600173160)
The plant receives natural diffused light across the entire factory floor reducing dependency on artificial lighting that, combined with chilled water floor slab cooling & cutting-edge air-conditioning technology reduces energy consumption to half that of a conventional plant of similar size.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Interior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a809/63c0/178c/4900/0c72/newsletter/4.jpg?1600169986)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Image 28 of 35](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/be3c/63c0/178c/4900/0cd0/newsletter/7.jpg?1600175491)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/b4b9/63c0/178c/4900/0ca4/newsletter/24.jpg?1600173189)
Structure & materials are expressed; off-form reinforced concrete and steel structure, glazing and landscape. With this small palette of materials, the building explains to us what it is, what it is made of & how it is put together. The approach was to create a stimulating & meaningful working environment for all employees – the forest to be the face of the building & company. Forests, critical for both macro & micro-climates are also vital for our psychological well-being.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Interior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a8c7/63c0/178c/4900/0c76/newsletter/7.jpg?1600170138)
Sustainability - From project onset, the client wanted an energy efficient and climatically responsive building. The cardinal sustainable design principles were energy efficiency, water efficiency, daylighting and biophilia – the fundamental human need for connection to Nature.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography, Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a835/63c0/178e/ee00/09a1/newsletter/3.jpg?1600169996)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Image 31 of 35](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/b9d7/63c0/178c/4900/0cc7/newsletter/2.jpg?1600174328)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography, Garden](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/aaec/63c0/178c/4900/0c7e/newsletter/14.jpg?1600170721)
The building is designed to shield against the hot & glaring tropical sun, while allowing diffused natural daylight to filter into the building. The office & courtyard are shaded by a louver canopy designed to provide effective solar protection during the hottest part of the day.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/aa7e/63c0/178e/ee00/09a9/newsletter/11.jpg?1600170583)
The factory skylight design was optimized to achieve an evenly day-lit work environment. The simulations and daylight measurements in operation show that the factory floor achieves an evenly day-lit work environment without glare throughout the year. Dimmable daylight responsive LED lighting and individual task lighting ensures that the required light levels are always obtained.
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/b4fd/63c0/178e/ee00/09cd/newsletter/26.jpg?1600173262)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Image 29 of 35](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/bc58/63c0/178c/4900/0cc9/newsletter/5.jpg?1600175000)
![Factory in the Forest / Design Unit Architects Snd Bhd - Exterior Photography](https://images.adsttc.com/media/images/5f60/a7cf/63c0/178e/ee00/099f/newsletter/2.jpg?1600169899)
An innovative radiant floor cooling system works with embedded PEX pipes in the concrete slabs throughout the factory & office. By cooling down the slabs to about 21°C, this structural element of the building doubles up as part of the cooling system. The higher chilled water temperature and the water-borne cooling transport makes the radiant floor slab cooling twice as energy efficient as conventional air-conditioning.