ASt021 ETIS Slovakia

ASthought

project: architect:

ETIS Slovakia / ALEXY & ALEXY

#21

book editor:

Martin Bútora

ASthought

project: architect:

ETIS Slovakia / ALEXY & ALEXY

#21

AsThoughtarchitecture from concept to built form

Our main goal is to describe the design process, the architectural solutions and the detailing choices of a built work in a chronological order. The dream – that is also the ambition – is to tune at the best the structure of this on-line manual and to spread around its template in order to amplify the power of collecting and publishing in a such huge way that in a few years we could arrive at the largest open source and most browsed utility for architectural students not only in Europe.

series editors:Gennaro PostiglioneMaddalena Scarzellaresearch team in Interiors @ Politecnico di Milano////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

ASthought architecture from concept to built form

http://asthought.polimi-cooperation.org

follow https://twitter.com/ASthought1 http://vimeo.com/asthought http://www.issuu.com/asthought

book editor:

Martin Bútora

All rights reserved © All Authors All drawings © ALEXY & ALEXYAll pictures © Martin Bútora, Pato Safko, Andrej Alexythis volume has no commercial purposes but only educational goals

Milan 2013

gennaro old

Highlight

Content

Work facts p. 5

Project description p. 6

Interview with Andrej Alexy p. 10

Draft proposal p. 14

Final proposal p. 20

Construction drawings p. 30

Building site p. 46

Photo gallery surroundings p. 54

Photo gallery exteriors p. 62

Photo gallery interiors p. 80

Systems of lighting p. 106

Selected essay p. 114

Appendix p. 119

office presentation p. 120

book editor presentation p. 122

4 ASthought

image full size

“Architecture through transparent facade acquires another dimension - environment enters the building and becomes part of it.”

Work facts

5ETIS Slovakia - ALEXY & ALEXY

Project: ETIS Slovakia

Address: Hlohová 10, 821 07 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Area: 2.017 m²

Volume: 15.612 m³

Type: Manufacture and Headquarter

Planned: 12/2006 – 07/2007

Built: 03/2008 – 10/2008

Client: ETIS Slovakia, a.s.

Architect: ALEXY & ALEXY / Ing. arch. Andrej Alexy

Responsible partner: Ing. arch. Andrej Alexy

Collaborators: Marek Kopp, Igor Lauko, Štefan Rafanides, Roman Rosina, Zuzana Švikruhová, Miroslav Jošt,

Radka Švecová, Daniela Málusová

Structural engineer: Ing. Miroslav Dobrucký

Awards: CE∙ZA∙AR 2010 – Award of the Slovak Chamber of Architects

References: http://www.alexyandalexy.sk/

http://asthought.polimi-cooperation.org/etis-slovakia-alexyalexy-bratislava-slovakia-2008-office

industry/

Project description: ALEXY & ALEXY

History of Commission: The client approached our architectural office based on a positive reference – realization of an

industrial hall Stavmat IN in Bratislava. The task was to create new operational and administrative

hall for ETIS Slovakia, a.s., a company producing self-adhesive labels on food products. The

building was planned to be located in Bratislava – Vrakuna.

Main architectural ideas: At the beginning we had a vision of simple “box” that is opened towards the street and by

transparent facade talks to a visitor. Glass connects the building with its surroundings.

Transparent facade vividly reacts to light during the day – dynamically changes its expression from

taciturn anthracite grey to blazing cyan.

Project description


“Compact two-storey hall for a label printing and headquarters offices. Almost in the field. So far. The

city gradually grows in here. Determining is a reduced vocabulary of elementary shapes and colors: gray,

almost black Alucobond, silver trapezoidal sheet metal, glass, signaling logotype and bright yellow hid-

den inside.”

8 ASthought

“At the beginning we had a vision of simple “box” that is opened towards the street and by transparent facade talks to a visitor.”


Interview with Andrej Alexy


images

Martin Bútora: At the first sight it may seem that the industrial hall ETIS is as simple prism. With a closer

examination we can notice the levitating “big eye” of the facade, the embedded entrance of the loading

ramp for import and export of goods, details of interior... Where did you take your inspiration from? Are

the results of design according to you just aesthetically managed the rational requirements or do you put

stress on the philosophical idea?

Andrej Alexy: The philosophy of design goes hand in hand with rational requirements for functional and

aesthetic treatment of the exterior or interior as well. The initial is always the idea of the proposal which is

born during countless analyses and discussions with the client. It was not our first hall-type building, so

we had some experiences and ideas how could such object would look like. The client himself contacted

us on the base of a positive reference after visiting the building, which we realized.

Martin Bútora: Inside the ETIS factory I think you have managed to create a high-quality and aesthetic

working environment, which is not standard in practice. Did you receive from the client or from the em-

ployees a response to better working atmosphere or job performance? Do you think that a high-quality

architecture is able to educate human?

Andrej Alexy: Yes, we get positive feedback even today. The client thanks to the new building scored

commercial successes, expanding his activities abroad. Moreover since the beginning of work on the

project, it was clear that the investment into the building must be part of an overall firm strategy. The cli-

ent himself said, “If our mission says that we design the labels of successful firms, our visual appearance

of the headquarter must also correspond to that term.” Interior and efficiently scheduled inner space

registered an impact on the workers themselves, their satisfaction and better performance and a sense

of belonging to the company.

12 ASthought

images

Martin Bútora: On the last year’s visiting tour with you and architect Eva Oravcová you mentioned that in

the production hall was proposed a heating system using residual heat generated from the printing ma-

chines. I would like to ask to which extent you were trying to apply energy and environment saving tech-

nologies in the design of the industrial hall ETIS. Is it difficult to convince the client to use such systems?

Andrej Alexy: In our practice, we meet with clients, who are usually economically well-informed. There

was no difference in the case of ETIS. Any idea for saving energy and thus the environment was very

carefully analyzed. The result was a concept which largely uses the residual heat of the printing ma-

chines. The question of more massive use of advanced technologies such as heat pumps, however,

depends on the time of return of the initial investment. In the developed countries plays a key role the

state support of them, which is still lacking in our country.

Martin Bútora: I noticed that the industrial hall ETIS has very interesting and sophisticated design of

interior and exterior lighting. Did you cooperate with some specialized lighting design studio?

Andrej Alexy: Illumination of interior and exterior is an integral part of the design solution and contrib-

utes to the overall perception of the building. Design, layout and overall lighting concept comes from our

architectural studio and drew experiences from previous realized buildings. Later, during the realization

process the individual details were consulted and modified with the supplier.

Martin Bútora: The quality of the project is often “reduced” by low standards of craftsmanship. How

were you satisfied with the building company during the construction of ETIS? Is it important for you to

monitor the quality of the work during the realization process personally?

Andrej Alexy: High-quality treatment is a basic condition for the full perception of architecture. The

philosophy of our design lies in the recognition of basic materials and surfaces in their natural, raw form,

to expose the true beauty of materials in their basal nature. This obviously puts greater demand on the

perfect treatment. Most of the surfaces were in the final form without subsequent tiling or painting. This

has been a problem for some contractors and some works has been reclaimed and had to be repaired

afterwards. The overall quality of the final work can thank to the regular inspection days and active per-

sonal participation of the investor on the site.


Andrej Alexy

images

Draft proposal

images

“Almost in the field.” 2006


16 ASthought

Spatial concept - administration part (blue) in the front, production part (grey) in the back.

Funcional concept - design and managenent offices (blue), entrance hall (yellow), presentation and conference rooms (fuchsia), pro-

duction hall (white), service rooms (brown), storage (grey).


images

Linear space organization

One of the first ideas was to write letters of different heights to represent labels and the firm’s business activity - graphic design.

The spaces for administrative part were clearly divided from production part by a skylight in the draft proposal.

18 ASthought

The ramp was later transformed into two stair plates. The meaning of this idea is that one is entering a building which quality is higher

than casual. The transparent fasade levitates few centimeters above the ground.


Final proposal

“The easiest way how to create a space. Just pull the width, height and length.”


images

22 ASthought

Site plan


images

First floor plan

LEG

EN

D

1.01

EN

TRA

NC

E H

ALL

/RE

CE

PTI

ON

1.02

CU

STO

ME

R S

ALE

S D

EP.

1.03

OFF

ICE

1.04

CLE

AN

ING

CH

AM

BE

R1.

05 W

C W

OM

EN

1.06

WC

ME

N1.

07 K

ITC

HE

N1.

08 P

RE

SE

NTA

TIO

N R

OO

M1.

09 D

INN

ING

RO

OM

1.10

MA

NA

GE

R1.

11 W

OR

KR

OO

M1.

12 S

TOR

AG

E1.

13 D

RE

SS

ING

RO

OM

ME

N1.

14 S

HO

WE

R M

EN

1.15

SH

OW

ER

WO

ME

N1.

16 D

RE

SS

ING

RO

OM

WO

ME

N1.

17 S

TOR

EK

EE

PE

RS

1.18

EM

PLO

EE

EN

TRA

NC

E1.

19 IM

PO

RT-

EXP

OR

T O

FFIC

E1.

20 E

XPE

DIT

ION

SPA

CE

1.21

PR

ES

S M

AC

HIN

E1.

22 S

TOR

AG

E S

PAC

E1.

23 E

XPE

DIT

ION

STO

RA

GE

1.24

STO

RA

GE

1.25

STO

RA

GE

1.26

IMP

OR

T-E

XPO

RT

RA

MP

1.27

HA

ND

LIN

G S

PAC

E1.

28TE

CH

NIC

AL

RO

OM

24 ASthought

Second floor plan

LEG

EN

D

2.01

GA

LLE

RY

2.02

CH

IEF

EXE

CU

TIV

E O

FFIC

ER

2.03

SA

LES

DE

PAR

TME

NT

2.04

EC

ON

OM

IC D

EPA

RTM

EN

T2.

05 T

EC

HN

ICA

L R

OO

M2.

06 S

ER

VE

R2.

07 W

C W

OM

EN

2.08

WC

ME

N2.

09 K

ITC

HE

N2.

10 C

ON

FER

EN

CE

RO

OM

2.11

DIR

EC

TOR

2.12

RE

SE

RV

E2.

13 R

ES

ER

VE

2.14

CO

MP

RE

SS

OR


Cross-section and longitudinal section

26 ASthought

North-east front side elevation, south-west back side elevation


North-west right side elevation, south-east left side elevation

28 ASthought

Relationship between entirety and detail in the context of compositional-proportional context


Construction drawings


images

“To keep the space cheap, everything is visible. We show everything (construction) and we think that it is nice. We want to show this.”

32 ASthought

Section through the transparent facade.


Glass connects the building with its surroundings. Transparent facade vividly reacts to light during the day – dynamically changes its

expression from taciturn anthracite grey to blazing cyan.

34 ASthought

The transparent facade levitates few centimeters above the ground.

Detailed section of transparent facade at the ground level. 1- Alucobond metal cover, 2- light, 3- mullion /

transom glazing, 6- concrete plate


“Architecture exceeds boundaries ofť own footprint, surrounding environment enters the building and becomes part of it.”

36 ASthought

Detailed section of transparent facade at the 2nd floor level. 3- mullion / transom glazing, 4- sun shade,

5- metal grid

Internal working environment is protected by white sun shades.


Detailed section of transparent facade at the roof level. 1- Alucobond metal cover, 2- light, 3- mullion /

transom glazing, 4- sun shade, 7- attic metal sheet

Integrated lights are framing the transparent facade.

38 ASthought

Detail of hidden gas pipeline. The first and the last Alucobond panel is perfored with small holes to allow natural ventilation.


Detail at the roof level.

Detail at the ground level.

40 ASthought

Production hall. “I have always admired old industrial factories. They are fascinating. I looked forward to this job.”


42 ASthought

Statical axonometry


Detail of steel construction - roof bracing and plasterboad, glass partition.

Detail of steel construction - column and beam joint, transparent facade.

44 ASthought


Building site

Management offices on the second floor. “Everything is visible.”


images

Constructing the steel skeleton. Spring 2008

48 ASthought

Constructing the steel skeleton. Spring 2008


50 ASthought

Roof bracing.

Swing fixation of steel I-profile columns is anchored to the concrete foundation strip.


Column and ceiling beam joint.

52 ASthought


Photo gallery surroundings

Partition building and furnishing interior work in offices on the first floor.


Few years ago there were only agricultural fields. At the periphery of Bratislava this industrial zone is now growing.

56 ASthought


58 ASthought

The building position is perpendicular to the street and develops in linear way - parking, access road, fore, administrative part, produc-

tion part, storage and export.


previous page: Sewage treatment plant neighbours with ETIS.

60 ASthought


Photo gallery exteriors

The visitor immediatelly gets the feeling of a modern environment representing the current trends in architecture of industrial buildings.


“At the beginning we had a vision of simple “box” that is opened towards the street and by transparent facade talks to a visitor.”

64 ASthought

Administrative part is covered by dark grey - anthracite cladding board Alucobond, production part is covered by light silver corru-

gated metal sheet. Transparent part with aluminum frame ideologically connects both functions.


next page: The dominant feature of the transparent front facade are labels in the form of letters. They represent a hilarious combination

of traditional, so-called television, facade with fashionable media facade.

66 ASthought


68 ASthought

The main entrance is perfectly hidden in the facade ornamente in original way. It is indicated by a pair of metal plates staircase.


The exterior design deals with parking, paved areas, pedestrian and automobile roads.

70 ASthought


Import-export loading ramp in the back of the building.

left: Concept of linearity is supported by corrugated metal sheet cladding and long strips of ribbon windows.

“Out of the “box” anything can be sticking out.” This is the reason way the import-export loading ramp is

embedded into the building structure. Stairs are leading towards the emploee entrance.

72 ASthought


74 ASthought

The buiding represents from typological perspective additive concept of partial overgrowth of administrative, manufacturing and

warehouse and personnel background. Administrative and production part are clearly divided by material use. Behind the building

there is space for further developement.


76 ASthought

Imaginary golden thread that connects all parts of the building is the presence of intense elements of cor-

porate identity in the architecture.

Two metal plates staircase are floating above the overexposed gravel gutter sidewalk. Entrance resembles

walking over the surface of water.

left: Glass reflects the environment.


78 ASthought


Photo gallery interiors

“If our mission says that we design the labels of successful firms, our visual appearance of the headquarter must also correspond to

that term.”

81

images

“ETIS has a simple volume. Therefore it was important to seek clarity of the proportions from the whole to the detail in conjunction with

the selection of furnishings to complement the design.”

82 ASthought


84 ASthought

The use of glass partitions makes a relatively small entrance hall looking generous and representational. previous page: Entrance hall.


Presentation room used for showing the final label design to the customers.

86 ASthought


Entrance hall. Reception desk resembles the transparent facade with letters and gravel in the front.

left: On the staircase are used main interior expression materials together - glass, metal and concrete.

“Black boxes” behind the white shelf contain background facilities (toilets, cleaning chamber, server, techni-

cal room) for the offices on the first and second floor.

88 ASthought


90 ASthought


Interiors are compact, sober but without formality.

left: Working places are connected with surrounding environment from which they get diffused natural light.

“Fine-tuning of details was necessary in order to achieve a harmonious unity from which will emit a pleasant

atmosphere and become an integral part of the corporate identity.”

previous page: Design offices on the first floor. Spaces are organized in the concept of free flow plan.

92 ASthought

Staircase leads to the management offices on the second floor. Grey fibre-cement boards can be illuminated from the back side.


Office kitchen and waiting space on the gallery. Suspended ceiling with fixed spot lights made of metal grid has industrial look.

94 ASthought

View from the gallery to the entrance hall. The conference room has red upholstered chairs while the other office chairs are in blue.


View from the gallery to the entrance hall. next page: Management offices on the second floor.

96 ASthought


98 ASthought

Toilettes hidden in the “black boxes” for the offices have fresh orange color.

previous page: White shelf is showing the best realized label designs, materials, printing possibilities and quality.


Everything related to production activity is presented. This program transparency is translated into true “techni-

cal” design of elements: visible construction of ceilings, industrial lighting in the entrance hall, exact form of the

glass railings on the staircase, suspended metal ceilings, toilette sinks...

100 ASthought

Dinning room for employees is located on the first floor behing the presentation room.


Entrance to the production hall is next to the dinning room. next page: Production hall for printing labels.

102 ASthought


104 ASthought

Production hall space is designed in a similar way as the administration part. Visible steel skeleton structure

and lattice girders in anthracite gray and industrial flooring are used in the whole building.

Heating system (see silver alluminium tubes) is using residual heat generated from the printing machines.

Behind the printing machines (on the right) is located the storage of final products.


Automatic sliding gate opens up towards embedded import-export loading ramp.

Systems of lighting


Spot light fixed into metal grid suspended ceiling.

108 ASthought

“The building is living at night as well and underneath the “glass skin” a colored performance of the internal life of the building takes

place.”


110 ASthought


112 ASthought

Interior ceiling light in the presentation room. prvious page: Illumination of the entrance hall.

Ceiling lights from the entrance hall are used in the employee dinning room as well.


Outdoor light illuminates the access road and car park.

Outdoor linear ceiling lights in the import-export lading ramp space.

Selected essay


Harmony of expediencyby Ján Ilkovič

New headquarter and manufacturing facility ETIS Slovakia for production of agricultural prod-

ucts labels appeared in the outskirts of Bratislava, in Vrakuňa. Immediately at the entrance the visitor

gets the feeling of a modern environment that represents the current trends in architecture of industrial

buildings. Imaginary golden thread that connects all parts of the area is the intense presence of elements

of corporate identity (corporate design) in the architecture.

The building represents from a typological perspective an additive concept of partial over-

growth administrative part, manufacture and storage spaces and personnel background. Central manu-

facturing hall space is surrounded by additional operations on two levels (the technology administration,

sanitary facilities, storage service, expedition and etc.). Operationally independent “module” is admin-

istration part. The architect designed it as a compact, slightly raised mass above the surface, which is

divided from the production hall of a different architectural style but related color by vertical glazed strip.

The dominant feature of the building’s front facade is transparent full-glazed wall with labels in form of

letters. It represents a hilarious combination of traditional, so-called television facade with fashionable

media facade. The main entrance perfectly hidden in ornament of the facade is signalized in an original

way indicated by a pair of metal plates staircase, floating above the overexposed gravel gutter sidewalk.

In this regard, it should be noted that the wide gravel strip will require daily maintenance, which may ulti-

mately affect this fancy solution. Transparent facade allows revealing the inner life of the building and also

acts as a welcoming gesture in relation to the customer. This effect is due to the sophisticated interior

lighting applies especially after dark.

Individual administrative offices are organized around the entrance hall with reception and

staircase. On the ground floor, the customer part is optically connected with the conference room and

116 ASthought

ILKOVIC, Ján. Harmťónia úcelnosti. ARCH ťcasopis o architektúre a inej kultúre, 2009-05-01, vol. 14, issue 05, p. 38-39.

* the information desk was later removed, nowadays there are two design chairs instead of it – editor’s comment

management offices. The use of glass partitions makes a relatively small entrance hall looking generous

and representational. Another difference from traditional standard of industrial buildings is the design of

interiors. Interiors are compact, sober but without formality. Everything related to production activity is

presented. This program transparency is translated into true “technical” design of elements: visible con-

struction of ceilings, industrial lighting in the entrance hall, exact form of the glass railings on the staircase

and even suspended metal ceilings. The dominant feature of the entrance hall is the information desk. It

grows out of the gravel and as the only ornament on his regular body uses a company logo. It acts as

a scale model or the entire building or rather than a sample outline of facade fragment. His counterpart

is the information desk on the second floor, where his location appears somehow illogically.* The lack of

an impressive solution for the building can be considered poor craftsmanship of the brushed concrete

flooring that shortly after starting using leaves its mark. Production hall space is designed in a similar

way as the administration part. Visible steel skeleton structure and lattice girders in anthracite gray and

industrial flooring are used in the whole building. Production part is directly accessed from the main

entrance hall. Pedestrian movement and background areas are for safety reasons separated by sophis-

ticated railings.


“When the building was completed in the spring it was still very raw (surrounding). We came one day for the control day and pop-

pies were flourishing here, all red. We said that this we have to repeat.” Dendrologist said its not possible to grow them, so they

have choosen other flowers to put on this place.

appendix

120 ASthought

office presentation


Tibor Alexy was born in 1929 in Padarovce. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and

Civil Engineering SVŠT, Bratislava in 1955. He taught at this university until 2002. Andrej Alexy was born

in 1965 in Bratislava. He graduated from the Faculty of Architecture STU, Bratislava in 1989. He worked

in several architectural studios until 2006. Since 2006 he is teaching at the Faculty of Architecture STU,

Bratislava as visiting docent and he is working in architectural studio ALEXY & ALEXY.

Behind the name is hidden for over twenty years of collaboration with father Tibor and his son

Andrej Alexy. “We have always been a small architectural studio and the number of employees was

around four or five,” says Andrej Alexy. “We have never wanted it to expand as in such amount of people

things can be solved at collegial, almost friendly level.” The main domain of studio activity is wide-ranging

architectural work from designing new buildings up to renovation, interior design and design. Residential

buildings, industrial architecture, public spaces, urban studies - these are all areas of studio interest,

which avoids typological stereotype. Diversity allows in terms of market demand flexibility but it puts

increased requirements on the studio for new commissions with different goals. Their buildings of various

typological characters have feeling of certain similarity of thoughts and expression. “It’s important to have

your own style that is readable at a glance” says Andrej Alexy. Studio ALEXY & ALEXY creates clean,

readable and open forms of architecture which do not miss classic elegance and professional integrity.

“The external form is related to the internal structure of architecture and it is an expression of internal

plan but we always try to give something extra to our work” points out Andrej Alexy. “The final shape

is coming from the surrounding context and from a rational composition of various studies - transport,

structural, high-rise etc., to which we add emotional elements. Emotions, however, we try to keep at bay

because if the architectural expression to be true and sincere, it must harmoniously tuned.”

The quality of the studio ALEXY & ALEXY Works is evidenced by several awards and prizes

one of which is the CE.ZA.AR, award of the Slovak Chamber of Architects for architecture. First time

studio won CE.ZA.AR Award with the project “Mondrian” in category Residential Buildings and second

time with the project “ETIS Slovakia” in category Public and Industrial Buildings. These projects were

nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award as well.

My name is Martin Bútora and I was born in 1989. I come from a town Dubnica nad Váhom in

Slovak Republic. I am a Master degree student taking part in Erasmus mobility at Politecnico di Milano.

I graduated with bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture at

Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava in 2012.

The decision to study architecture led me a desire to design and construct buildings in the

future and my skillful father, an architect. I am persuaded that the work of an architect is not simple, but

very important and helpful in our society. Designing gives me space to express myself and I hope that I

can positively influence my surrounding. I consider myself as a humble, open-minded, hard-working and

responsible person. I enjoy designing, solving conceptual tasks and working in team. I’m interested in

contemporary architecture and art. My free time is dedicated to voluntary work especially in the Scouting

Slovakia. If the opportunity arises, I set out on the mountain for a hike or bike trip.

122 ASthought

book editor presentation

Work facts

Project: ETIS Slovakia

Address: Hlohová 10, 821 07 Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Area: 2.017 m²

Volume: 15.612 m³

Type: Manufacture and Headquarter

Planned: 12/2006 – 07/2007

Built: 03/2008 – 10/2008

Client: ETIS Slovakia, a.s.

Architect: ALEXY & ALEXY / Ing. arch. Andrej Alexy

Responsible partner: Ing. arch. Andrej Alexy

Collaborators: Marek Kopp, Igor Lauko, Štefan Rafanides, Roman Rosina, Zuzana Švikruhová, Miroslav Jošt,

Radka Švecová, Daniela Málusová

Structural engineer: Ing. Miroslav Dobrucký

Awards: CE∙ZA∙AR 2010 – Award of the Slovak Chamber of Architects

References: http://www.alexyandalexy.sk/

http://asthought.polimi-cooperation.org/etis-slovakia-alexyalexy-bratislava-slovakia-2008-office

industry/

Project description: ALEXY & ALEXY

History of Commission: The client approached our architectural office based on a positive reference – realization of an

industrial hall Stavmat IN in Bratislava. The task was to create new operational and administrative

hall for ETIS Slovakia, a.s., a company producing self-adhesive labels on food products. The

building was planned to be located in Bratislava – Vrakuna.

Main architectural ideas: At the beginning we had a vision of simple “box” that is opened towards the street and by

transparent facade talks to a visitor. Glass connects the building with its surroundings.

Transparent facade vividly reacts to light during the day – dynamically changes its expression from

taciturn anthracite grey to blazing cyan.

Documents

ASt021 ETIS Slovakia