Washington Fruit Company Headquarters

Description

The 16,500 square foot headquarters is conceived as an oasis amidst a sea of warehouses, concrete, and low-lying brush landscape. Tucked behind landforms and site walls, this L-shaped, courtyard-focused complex provides a refuge from the noise and activity of adjacent industrial yards. Weathering materials merge building into landscape, while scissored glulam columns reveal the physics of construction. The north-facing façade is fully glazed, dissolving the boundary between inside and courtyard.

Statement of the jury

This L-shaped design is embedded in the hill surrounding it, whereby the building opens out as much as possible to an interior courtyard. High wooden crisscrossing elements support a translucent roof that admits natural light. This building, which is eminently suited for its intended purpose, enables occupants to disregard the surrounding industrial facilities and thus enjoy a maximum amount of tranquility.