Green Quality Barcode / Ceratizit Bulgaria

A "Natural" Workspace & Master Plan

To reconnect the facility with its surroundings, we replaced restrictive existing buildings with an open, North-South spatial system. The campus is organized into four main buildings aligned from North to South: the Warehouse Facility, Production Building 1, Production Building 2, and an Auxiliary Building housing the new Energy Block, Transformer Station, and Compressor Units. Between these structures, pedestrian and transport passages extend smoothly toward the river and the future recreational area.

We organized the facility into three functional zones to ensure both efficiency and comfort:

1. The Technical Spine (West): A vertical installation area that houses technical equipment behind a louvered system and a living green wall to naturally reduce overheating. To the west of the warehouse, we designed a Chips and Waste Shelter, which is connected to the three main buildings via an accessible underground utility tunnel running along the north-south axis. This tunnel directly serves a high-tech vacuum chip collection system located on the basement level of each production building.
2. The Production Core (Center): A flexible area designed for the future. By distributing installations at a high level, we’ve ensured that the production floor can adapt as technology evolves. Essential infrastructure—including the Gas Supply System, Water Reservoirs with Water Towers, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant—is strategically located between the buildings, while a dedicated truck maneuvering area is planned in front of the warehouse.
3. The Human Hub (East): Amenity and office spaces positioned to maximize natural light and river views. This arrangement allows us to utilize the Yantra River as a natural ventilation corridor, harnessing southerly winds to provide fresh air throughout the structures.

Sustainability & Circular Innovation

Sustainability was at the heart of our process from day one. During the initial phase, we employed sustainable demolition practices, recycling much of the construction waste on-site to be used in the new development.

Renewable Energy: We installed 1,585 rooftop photovoltaic panels to power the facility. In the warm months, this solar energy runs the air-to-air heat pumps that keep the workspace cool.

Thermal Recovery: During the winter, we capture and filter warm air generated by production processes, recirculating it to heat the work areas efficiently.

Water Stewardship: To maintain the site’s lush greenery, we designed a drip-irrigation system that utilizes water captured from the Yantra River, ensuring the vertical gardens thrive year-round.

An Environment for Personal Development

We designed the indoor recreational area to be the heart of the facility. Serving as both a transport hub and a social space, it provides a "near-natural" climate through extensive glazing, light tunnels, and facade flaps. This flexible, open-office environment features movable glass walls that open toward the river, providing an inspiring backdrop for employees to meet, work, and exchange ideas.

Future Community and Recreation Phase

While the production core is the foundation of the project, we are equally excited about the upcoming phase dedicated to community and recreation. Our vision for this next stage includes transforming former warehouse zones into a public park with a cafe, benches, and a river amphitheater to reconnect residents and employees with the Yantra.

Planned future elements also include:

- A comprehensive sports complex and playground.

- A new pedestrian bridge to improve local connectivity.

- Dedicated water features for cooling used water and aesthetic enjoyment.

Green Quality Barcode represents our vision of a sustainable future: a high-performance workspace that prioritizes the well-being of its people and the health of the planet.