Karaj Distribution Center

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Karaj Distribution Center

Firm

StudioArchify

Type

Commercial › Office Retail Bank

STATUS

Concept

SIZE

300,000 sqft - 500,000 sqft

BUDGET

$5M - 10M

Adjacent to a primary Iranian logistics hub, the Karaj Distribution Center commands a 44,000 sqm site, integrating a diverse program into its architectural fabric. It boasts a cutting-edge subterranean cold storage of 3,500 sqm, exploiting the earth's insulative properties for sustainability. Additionally, it encompasses 80 retail units of 139 sqm each, a 1,300 sqm office area, and a stratified parking system for 550 vehicles.
The design allocates 54% of the land to construction, with 5% dedicated to greenery, deftly balancing built and natural environments. The scheme addresses the logistical challenges inherent in distribution center operations, prioritizing efficient circulation and access.
Retail functions anchor the ground level, optimizing pedestrian accessibility and commercial interaction. Parking is ingeniously tiered above, connected through bridging elements that contribute to the site's vertical integration.
Office spaces inhabit a double-height volume, shielded by a noise-cancelling blind façade that draws light from above. The design integrates a central atrium and verdant walls, fusing the office sector with nature.
Five distinct volumes orchestrate spatial rhythm, linked by a colonnade that catalyzes pedestrian flow. This rhythm extends through the parking façade's horizontal mesh, serving as a semi-permeable veil that merges seamlessly with the textured plaster exterior.
The office block distinctively caps the colonnade, presenting a bold, cubic mass that contrasts with the lightness below, creating an architectural paradox. This interplay of heavy and light forms underscores the building's dynamic expression.
Referencing traditional Iranian bazaars, the center's design vocabulary of rhythm, proportion, and accessibility encapsulates a modern interpretation of historical marketplaces, embodying functional and aesthetic excellence while reinvigorating Iran's commercial architectural heritage.