barthélémy – griño architects completes berluti factory in ferrara

barthélémy – griño architects completes berluti factory in ferrara
all images courtesy of philippe barthélémy & sylvia griño architects

south of ferrara, italy, sitting amongst the fertile and meticulously manicured plains near the po river, is the ‘berluti factory’ for luxury shoemaking. completed by barthélémy – griño architects, the 7,890m² manufacturing house brings together workshop areas, business logistics, and office space.

parking lot and alternate view  

the concept for the building was largely to make the industrial nature of the site disappear. a vibrant, kinetic façade was created to diminish the mass of the form, and is aided by the absence of typical elements like control booths, smokestacks, or external machinery. it was the goal of the design team to represent the intelligence of the hands and minds of ‘berluti’s’ crafts(wo)men, and is quite clear in the level of detail considered in the construction.

the ‘blank’ is surrounded by open farmland 

wood is the dominant material of the building, which will patina over time as the structure ages. in the factory’s large commons area — which provides access to all areas — a grandiose grid of interlocking beams projects woven shadows into the room, and looks like a gigantic pair of laces. the interior is clad in beech rather than cedar, serving as a subtle nod to the wooden forms used for cobbling. 

night view of the building 

main entrance 

red cedar brackets form a sun barrier during daylight hours  

the reception desk is wrapped in leather 

the interlocking beam grid projects woven shadows like gigantic laces 

the agora connects all spaces, and acts as a hub for organization 

staircase that separates offices from public areas 

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