Soprema Factory by Ateliers A+

The Soprema Factory in Saint-Gilles, France, marks a significant departure from the typical industrial landscape. More than just a manufacturing facility, this flagship factory stands as a bold architectural statement that embodies the Soprema Group’s vision of combining technical innovation with refined architectural quality. Visible from the nearby A54 motorway that connects Nîmes to Salon-de-Provence, the factory asserts itself as a powerful landmark in the region, symbolizing both the company’s industrial prowess and its commitment to sustainability and aesthetic excellence.

Architectural Vision and Design Language

The design architects, Ateliers A+, have skillfully challenged the conventional norms of industrial architecture by crafting a building that celebrates rhythm, transparency, and spatial experience. The factory’s form is articulated through sculpted volumes and a monumental steel canopy, while expansive glazed façades introduce a sense of lightness and openness rarely seen in production sites.

A continuous façade extending over 250 meters defines the factory’s presence on site, yet through a subtle interplay of materiality and scale, the architects manage to break down the building’s monumental mass into varied rhythms that soften its visual impact. The articulation of volumes creates a dynamic composition that adds depth and character, ensuring the factory integrates harmoniously with its surroundings while projecting a distinctly contemporary identity.

To the south, the main production hall impresses with its transparency, enabling visitors and users alike to witness the manufacturing activities within. Its height increases toward the east, culminating in a volumetric gesture that announces the functional heart of the site.

Functional Excellence and User Experience

Specializing in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foam panels for thermal insulation in roofs, walls, and floors, the factory was designed to accommodate both the complex technical requirements of production and the comfort of its workforce.

At the forefront of the design is an immense louvered steel canopy that unfolds gracefully above the entrance zone. This canopy, enveloped in a double skin of slatted wood, provides a warm and textured contrast to the industrial steel structure, lending a unique identity to the building’s parallelepiped form.

Beneath this canopy lies a discreet two-story pavilion that houses the factory’s social areas and laboratory. This pavilion serves as the human scale counterpoint to the large production volumes, providing spaces dedicated to offices, changing rooms, and break areas that prioritize employee wellbeing within an industrial context.

Daylight, Transparency, and Nighttime Expression

A key feature of the factory’s design is its masterful use of daylight. The storage area for finished products, stretching an impressive 170 meters, incorporates tall vertical openings that punctuate the façade rhythmically. During the day, these openings flood the interior with natural light, reducing reliance on artificial illumination and creating a healthier, more pleasant working environment.

At night, these same vertical slits transform dramatically. Illuminated from within, they become luminous lines that animate the façade, turning the building into a glowing beacon visible from afar—an architectural gesture that not only celebrates the factory’s industrial function but also enhances its presence within the nocturnal landscape.

Sustainability and Energy Transition

Sustainability lies at the core of the Soprema Factory’s design and operation. A vast array of photovoltaic panels installed on the roof harvest solar energy, enabling significant on-site power generation that supports the factory’s energy self-sufficiency and reduces its carbon footprint.

This commitment to renewable energy is part of a broader strategy to integrate energy transition efforts into the industrial process. By combining state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies with eco-conscious architectural design, the factory exemplifies how industrial facilities can contribute positively to environmental goals.

Technical Overview

The project encompasses a comprehensive program, including:

• A production hall equipped with advanced machinery for polyurethane foam panel manufacturing

• Ancillary spaces such as raw material storage, technical rooms, and auxiliary storage

• Three dedicated finished product storage halls, designed for efficient logistics and optimized handling

• A two-story pavilion housing social facilities—offices, changing rooms, and a laboratory

• Integrated photovoltaic solar panels for renewable energy generation

The building covers a total floor area of approximately 26,400 square meters, reflecting the scale and complexity of the operation. The project’s budget was €25,674,000 (excluding taxes), with design and technical studies completed between 2021 and delivery finalized in April 2024.

A New Benchmark in Industrial Architecture

The Soprema Factory is much more than a manufacturing site; it is a visionary project that redefines the architectural language of industrial buildings. Its successful fusion of technical innovation, human-centered design, and sustainable technologies demonstrates how factories can be transformed into landmarks of environmental responsibility and architectural distinction.

By breaking away from the traditional, often utilitarian approach to industrial design, Ateliers A+ have crafted a building that not only performs optimally but also enriches the landscape and engages its users with a sense of pride and place. The Soprema Factory thus sets a new benchmark for industrial architecture—one where form and function coexist with innovation and ecological consciousness.

Photography: Adrien Guitard