Focus On / Wilkinson Office And Warehouse Buildings

Phoenix AZ - United States

The anonymous faces of the huge block housing the Wilkinson offices and warehouse, made with grit shot concrete panels, were completely upgraded when the building was refurbished. The bottom section of the large entrance facade stood out for the uneven distribution of its doors and windows; these were brought together by a 40 meter long steel beam painted in a vibrant yellow colour. The top of the beam, about 2.50 meters above the ground, is also the lower edge of the new ventilated facades ade that wraps around the entire building, giving it a fresh and dynamic look with the distinctive mirrored effect, integrating architecture with the environment. The use of a simple and continuous ceramic face lent new, architectural dignity to the building. Choosing this technology also significantly cut energy demands for heating and cooling the building. Marazzi Engineering designed and supplied the continuous face in 60x60 cm porcelain stoneware slabs, fitted using a system of exposed hooks. The design won the “commercial architecture” category of the prestigious Ceramic Tiles of Italy Design Competition in 2005.

Focus On

Baggiovara Centre shopping mall

This newly-built shopping centre houses a supermarket and several shops overlooking a two storey gallery inside. The introverted layout of the retail spaces, which open out onto the indoor walkways, resulted in a compact exterior curtain wall whose value is enhanced by the use of Marazzi firestr...

Headquarter Saet

The aim of the new complex was to bring all of the company’s activities under one roof. The company develops solutions for industrial automation and has a large, rectangular production unit, enclosed by a slightly rounded building on two sides housing the offices and engineering department. The m...

'Ai Giardini' multi-family dwelling

The housing estate in the original project did not expect the use of a ventilated facade outdoor coverage. To adequately exploit the benefits of this technology without upsetting the original form of some essential elements it has been necessary to estabilish a strong collaboration among the desi...

Courthouse

As part of an ambitious project begun toward the end of the 90’s involving the rehabilitation of old public buildings and the construction of new ones in Ostrava in the Czech Republic, the new Courthouse was one of the biggest and most complex projects. For the external cladding used to create th...

Millepiedi - Grounds of the Palazzo della Triennale

As part of the project undertaken to rehabilitate the grounds of the Palazzo della Triennale in Milan, the Marazzi Group contributed with Millepiedi (Millipede), a work by Aldo Cibic that joins other permanent installations by famous international designers, creating a showcase of architectural v...

Paul L. Cejas School of Architecture

Form and function, action and decoration are the principal guidelines inspiring the project by Bernard Tschumi for the Florida International University’s School of Architecture. The ceramic tiles were used for surfacing the facades of three different buildings, referred to by Tschumi as “social c...

Multi-family dwelling

This new eight storey apartment block is in the northern suburbs of the city and has the advantage of magnificent views across the lake and the surrounding mountains. It stands out for the flexibility of its layout, reflected in its split facades punctuated by balconies, an element marking the pr...

Bus Stop

For Merano, an Italian city with a strong tradition in the hospitality and tourism businesses, it is fundamentally important to guarantee the accessibility of its public services to all: inhabitants and guests, whether disabled or not. The city administration decided to take a concrete step in en...

Cooperative Bank

The new Headquarters of this local Cooperative bank is in a small country town, close to Cesenatico. The compact shape of the building, a true and proper “palazzo” towering over the lower buildings around it, was designed to call up the bank’s deeply enrooted origins in the local territory in co...

Quadrante Europa freight terminal headquarters

Zona Agricola Industriale Consortium takes care of town planning and the development of infrastructures for several strategic areas in the Verona hinterland, where there are over 1,000 businesses in operation. The large, compact block of the headquarters dates back to the Seventies. All of the ...

Solarium of the Hotel Villa Brunella

Perched on a steep cliff overlooking the sea and the famous Faraglioni stacks, this is one of the most luxurious hotels on the island, with various separate wings built on terraces and surrounded by several spectacular patios. One of the most important aspects of the hotel’s renovation was the co...

Arsenale Cafeteria

As part of the restoration and rehabilitation project promoted by the Biennale Foundation of Venice, the Marazzi Group provided the ceramic tiles and installation for the space that houses the area’s principal restaurant and cafeteria service. The architectural context of this project is the hist...

Borgo Prino Square

This public square is meant to be the heart of a new residential and commercial complex in a district of the city currently under redevelopment. It is a pedestrian area that is intended to be the “local town square” and act as the hub of community life. It hopes to become a reference point for t...

UB Faculty, School of Business

As part of the "UB Faculty", School of Business, project, Marazzi ica provided engineering services and exterior wall tiles for the central structure. 60 x 90 cm. ceramic slabs set vertically on a surface of approx. 2,500 sq. meters create a large ventilated curtain wall. The utilization of large...

NH Hotel FieraMilano

The new towers of the NH Hotel Fiera di Milano serve Milan’s exhibition district at Rho-Pero and are located opposite the main gates. The two gigantic monoliths are a fine example of the creative verve of Dominique Perrault, the internationally acclaimed French architect. Their restrained and rat...

Santagostino Multipurpose Centre

The multipurpose centre rises in an industrial area in the northern suburban area of Milan. It is embedded in a very inhomogeneous context devoted to industries and surrounded by residential areas built in the seventies. It singularises as a totem with simple shapes but with a remarkable architec...

Pinko headquarters

The new Headquarters of this young, rapidly expanding brand on the international fashion scene is a multipurpose complex housing the executive offices, the pattern making department, an auditorium for events and fashion shows, a cafeteria and a large warehouse. The building was designed by Guido ...

'Angel's' New Hospital

The designers of the most avant-garde hospital complex in Italy include Emilio Ambasz, an internationally acclaimed architect and a pioneer of sustainable development. The innovative “camouflage” philosophy, whereby a building blends in with its surroundings, is plain to see in the large, grass...

Multifunctional Centre "Le Tre Torri"

The three office blocks are linked on the ground floor by a square overlooking the services and catering areas. They are part of a new development that is connected directly to the local motorway network. The slender buildings stand out against the flat horizon of the countryside and with the amb...

loading more

Project:

Michael P. Johnson

Job description:

Ventilated façade

See online

Project plan