{"id":623,"date":"2026-11-03T10:00:25","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T09:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/?p=623"},"modified":"2026-11-03T10:01:23","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T09:01:23","slug":"orix-when-industrial-requirements-shape-architectural-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/orix-when-industrial-requirements-shape-architectural-design\/","title":{"rendered":"ORIX: When Industrial Requirements Shape Architectural Design"},"content":{"rendered":"

Designing a multi-storey industrial building that meets companies\u2019 technical requirements without compromising spatial flexibility or the quality of the working environment: this is the architectural challenge behind ORIX.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Located in the heart of the ZIMEYSA industrial zone in Geneva, this development offers industrial units for outright ownership under a condominium ownership structure (PPE), introducing a new approach to production and craft spaces. Anne Luyet, Partner Architect at LAM Architectes<\/a>, explains how industrial requirements, natural light and sustainability considerations shaped the building\u2019s design.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What was your architectural vision for ORIX, and which references inspired its design?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We drew inspiration from the history of industrial architecture, particularly British brick warehouses and American \u201cdaylight factories\u201d. These buildings share two defining qualities that we wanted to incorporate into the project: the rigour of their rational structural design and their large openings that maximise natural light.<\/p>\n

Our aim was to create a restrained, durable architectural design based on a regular column grid, organised around four structural cores and a landscaped inner courtyard. The decision to use an entirely concrete structure, consisting of load-bearing slabs and columns, reflects this commitment to flexibility. It allows spaces to be configured and subdivided according to companies\u2019 needs while complying with applicable safety regulations. This approach provides considerable freedom in terms of interior layouts, particularly in a building designed to accommodate multiple occupants with a wide range of activities.<\/p>\n

The inner courtyard brings natural light into the heart of the building while providing views of the surrounding greenery. As a result, the floor plates benefit from natural light on two sides, creating flexible and pleasant working environments.<\/p>\n

How did you reconcile the technical and logistical requirements of an industrial building with architectural quality and user comfort?<\/strong><\/p>\n

ORIX\u2019s architectural expression stems directly from its construction. The building\u2019s structural grid, designed and dimensioned to meet the load-bearing and span requirements of industrial and craft activities, also establishes the rhythm of its fa\u00e7ade.<\/p>\n

Ceiling heights and functions are organised across different levels. The ground floor, with its solid, mineral character, large openings and direct logistics access, is suited to production activities, with a maximum floor load capacity of 1,500 kg\/sqm. The upper floors, accessible in particular via goods lifts, are designed to accommodate lighter activities, with floor load capacities of up to 800 kg\/sqm. Finally, the recessed top floor features terraces that encourage interaction and synergies between occupants while reducing the perceived height of the building.<\/p>\n

Access and circulation were integrated into the project from the outset. Car parking is located underground, with a ramp providing access from Rue de la Berg\u00e8re, while deliveries and commercial vehicles benefit from controlled access via Rue Mo\u00efse-Marcinhes. Separating logistics flows, pedestrian routes and landscaped areas ensures both comfort and safety for building users.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Modularity is central to the project. How does the architecture allow spaces to accommodate different types of businesses and adapt to their changing needs?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Modularity guided every aspect of ORIX\u2019s design. Fixed elements, particularly technical installations, are concentrated within the building\u2019s cores, leaving the floor plates largely open, flexible and adaptable.<\/p>\n

The industrial floors are divided into approximately ten units, which can be combined according to occupants\u2019 needs without altering the building\u2019s structure. Companies can therefore purchase an individual unit starting from 270 sqm on the upper floors, several adjoining units or an entire floor.<\/p>\n

This configuration allows businesses to adapt their premises over time, for example by expanding or sharing a floor, while continuing to benefit from abundant natural light thanks to the inner courtyard and the regular arrangement of fa\u00e7ade openings.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

How did you integrate a building of this scale into its surroundings in the heart of ZIMEYSA?<\/strong><\/p>\n

ZIMEYSA is undergoing a transformation. As part of the ZIMEYSAVER project, the canton, municipalities and the FTI<\/a> are encouraging more intensive land use, high-quality developments and sustainable mobility. ORIX contributes to this transformation by accommodating industrial activities across multiple floors.<\/p>\n

Its compact volume and recessed top floor help integrate the building into its surroundings. On the fa\u00e7ade, the dark, mineral base contrasts with the upper floors clad in terracotta-coloured aluminium, a reference to traditional British brick warehouses.<\/p>\n

Particular attention has also been paid to the outdoor spaces, with planting along the streets, the preservation and enhancement of mature trees at the corner of the building, and the creation of a publicly accessible park on the site.<\/p>\n

ORIX is also located approximately five minutes\u2019 walk from ZIMEYSA railway station, close to the motorway. The future Vernier\u2013Meyrin\u2013Satigny greenway and bus rapid transit service will progressively improve transport connections throughout the area.<\/p>\n

Which aspects of the project do you consider particularly representative of a new generation of industrial buildings in Geneva, especially in terms of sustainability and the quality of working environments?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stacking industrial activities across multiple floors addresses the scarcity of industrial land. It allows for more intensive land use while providing spaces suited to a variety of activities.<\/p>\n

We wanted to demonstrate that an industrial building can offer bright, pleasant working environments. The landscaped inner courtyard, views of the outdoors and terraces on the top floor all contribute to this quality of space.<\/p>\n

Sustainability was integrated from the earliest design stages. The roof combines photovoltaic panels with green roofing, the fa\u00e7ades use recyclable aluminium, and the building envelope has been designed with future material reuse in mind.<\/p>\n

Finally, the flexibility of the spaces allows for changes in use or conversion over time without major structural alterations, thereby reducing the need for construction work and the associated embodied energy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Designing a multi-storey industrial building that meets companies\u2019 technical requirements without compromising spatial flexibility or the quality of the working environment: this is the architectural challenge behind ORIX. Located in the heart of the ZIMEYSA industrial zone in Geneva, this development offers industrial units for outright ownership under a condominium ownership structure (PPE), introducing a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":624,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-623","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=623"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":630,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/623\/revisions\/630"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=623"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=623"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/orix-gva.ch\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=623"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}