The F Factory

Situated along the A2 highway in the industrial area of Tetovo in N Macedonia, the F Factory consolidates Federbau’s disparate facilities into a single building that aims to stimulate interaction between various departments.

The client was seeking to build a new plant so that they can improve the functionality of its existing mattress production and to give new breeze to its workspaces, offices and the showroom.

The 3,600m2 horizontal building - 128 metres long - consists of “the body” as the production area and “the head” as the creative nucleus. The large box of “the body” is divided into frisky slabs, which resolves the heaviness and gloominess of the large-scale volume. “The head” consists of smaller boxes stacked and staggered to form exposed terraces and niches, which open framed views and encourage people to encounter a dialogue with the context and nature. At the center of “the head”, the vertical atrium enhances the permeability of the building, allowing sunlight and air to penetrate into the building, making people surrounded by nature.

The main entrance gives access to a double-height space where visitors are welcomed in the showroom; the new administrative and commercial offices and meeting rooms can be found on the upper floor, overlooking the large ground floor atrium. The building program alongside the new production lines includes logistics, storage and a canteen for the personnel. The spaces between the showroom and the production area is dedicated to dressing rooms and training areas as well as to technical spaces.

The spatial configuration is pleasant and coherent with the architectural form, making the outdoor environment and interior spaces an integrated whole. Interior areas of the project were designed looking for simplicity, with white walls and ceilings and neutral floors. As soon as you enter, there are open and naturally lit areas with an interior courtyard as the focal element in the circulation.

From the outside, the selection of materials defines a discontinuous combination of solids and voids in the façades, providing different levels of porosity to the whole volume. The solid character of the metal façade in combination with the glazed surfaces creates an interesting play of changing reflection over the course of a day.

The overall design aims to meet the clients’ aspiration for a new significant landmark, visible from the highway and the surrounding landscape, in an industrial context lacking visual references. It brings together comfort, tranquility and exquisite spaces, providing Federbau with a fantastic oportunity to transform and grow.