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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination. The Scale House in Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago by acla:works architectsJanuary 24th, 2017 by Sumit Singhal
Article source: acla:works architects The 50-acre estate owned by Fernandes Distillers Ltd, whose rum business was sold in 1973 to Angostura, world renown for its aromatic bitters, has been transformed initially into Fernandes Industrial Centre, but now gradually into its current incarnation, Fernandes Business Centre. It follows that there was an increased need for better eating facilities for its growing population of office workers. When the owners came to Trinidad-based architecture and interiors firm, acla:works to design a new food court building, they were delighted as they too would be benefit as their headquarters was also located there.  The entrance, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis
 A corner view, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis The new building was to be located just inside the entrance off the Eastern Main Road, one of the major east-west roadways in the north of Trinidad. The site is behind a row of mature trees that ran along the fence and was previously occupied by a convenience shop. More interestingly, this same site was also formerly the weighing station for trucks hauling harvested sugar cane, the key ingredient of course to making rum. The discovery of the existing scale being preserved within the walls of the old convenience shop led to it being one of the key generators of the design.  The north facade, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  Modernity in contrast with nature, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis The owners decided to undertake managing the construction themselves and the building opened to the public in May 2016. The scale remains in its original position and is proudly displayed at the main entrance to the building. The original weighing platform outside has also been restored and the building, aptly named The Scale House. The building is approximately 3500sf with 4 food-vending bays, public toilets and both indoor and outdoor dining.  The garden patio, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The garden patio, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis The building seems to have started off successfully for the owners, vendors as well as to customers who now have a great alternative place to eat within the industrial estate. For those who don’t bring their lunch, having food within walking distance to their workplace should also minimize lunchtime traffic on the roads. “Everyone seems to enjoy the stillness of the space and the ambience” which the architects believe have raised the profile of the neighborhood.  The main facade, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The exterior patio, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The Scale House, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The concourse, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The main hallway, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The entrance interior, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  Side facade, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The washrooms, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  The main facade, Image Courtesy © Brian Lewis  Image Courtesy © acla:works architects  Image Courtesy © acla:works architects  Image Courtesy © acla:works architects  Image Courtesy © acla:works architects  Image Courtesy © acla:works architects
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Tags: Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago Categories: Building, Commercial Building, Industrial |
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