Alessandro Bulletti Architects

Kristalia New Headquarters

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

Kristalia New Headquarters

Sandro Burigana

LOCATION
Prata Di Pordenone, Italy

CATEGORY
Industrial Architecture, Institutional Buildings

Text description provided by architect.

Before revolutionary changes in 2001, for several years Kristalia was a company specialising in the production of accessories mainly made in glass.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

Hence its name, which comes from the fusion of two key words: “cristallo” (crystal glass) and “Italia” (made in Italy).

Its name also evokes another special feature, transparency, which continued to make Kristalia stand out even when glass production was abandoned in favour of furniture design.

Transparency is one of Kristalia’s key values, which can be applied to the way projects are developed, to production processes and advertising, as well as to the company’s premises that become “transparent”, since they are genuine, liveable and light.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

For Kristalia, the work environment is crucial, just like the light that illuminates it and nature all around it, despite the fact that the district where Kristalia is based, Prata di Pordenone, is a lively centre of production.

In total contrast with the current period, in 2014, Kristalia has decided to invest in the company, starting with its headquarters.

It is neither going abroad nor building in the immediate vicinity. Instead it is strengthening, updating and improving what already exists, recovering land and buildings in disused industrial areas.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

A further contrast is the company’s choice to support a practice that, in the past, highlighted the experiences of leading and courageous Italian companies in the areas where they were established and where they tried to contribute the values of a community, the land and its people, even before such values were required in employees.

Such factory-villages, the so-called “farms” of today, are reminders of the districts in Italy.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

It is a question of green (trees and mountains), white (snow and light), black (dark vs. artificial lighting), clean air and naturalness that even allows cement to harmoniously blend in with the landscape.

It is a question of sustainability, arising from the idea that a work environment can absorb and still produce the energy it needs, in a virtuous cycle: so photovoltaic panels are required on the roof to guarantee the energy we need for interiors designed with work areas alternating with relaxation and leisure areas.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl

In this way, human potential also promises a combined result based on creativity and efficiency.

Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl


Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl
Kristalia New Headquarters
© Paolo Contratti - Contratticompany Srl


Kristalia New Headquarters
Floor Plan
Kristalia New Headquarters
Detail

Alessandro Bulletti Architects
T +39 075 5730159
Alessandro Bulletti Architects
Via del Vivaio, 3, 06132 Perugia PG, Italy