Ricola-Europe SA Production and Storage Building, Industrial architecture in Mulhouse, France.
The Ricola-Europe SA Production and Storage Building is a manufacturing facility in Mulhouse designed by Herzog & de Meuron. It features two extended roofs stretching 8 meters (26 feet) from the main structure, which create sheltered areas for loading operations and viewing the surroundings.
Herzog & de Meuron completed this complex between 1992 and 1993, marking a turning point in how industrial buildings could be designed. The project demonstrated that production facilities could be both functional and visually innovative at the same time.
The facade displays botanical photographs by Karl Blossfeldt on polycarbonate panels, showing a palm leaf pattern that connects the building visually to the surrounding landscape. These images become part of how visitors and workers experience the structure daily.
The building is best explored from outside since it is an active production facility and the interior is not typically open to the public. The best views come from the surrounding paths and streets, especially if you want to photograph the extended roofs and polycarbonate facade panels.
Rainwater flows down concrete walls stained with iron oxide and seeps into gravel beds without needing traditional drainage systems. This natural drainage approach demonstrates how even practical infrastructure can become part of the building's design.
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