Anatolia, ceramic and stone supplier based in Toronto, Canada, reports that it will soon open a new 2.1 million-square-foot facility in the Gulf of Izmir, Turkey. The facility will house the company’s research and development, showrooms, and offices with the goal of becoming an innovation powerhouse with a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant and logistics center.
Designed in partnership with Canadian studio Micacchi Architecture and Iglo Architects of Turkey, the facility features three structures that form an integrated production and design unit. The first is the main administrative building – a grand and refined architectural masterpiece that houses office space, showrooms, and research and product development labs.
The building adjoins a production plant with a planned total of six lines equipped with advanced manufacturing equipment such as 3D printers and double-band, double-deck kilns for producing porcelain tiles and slabs.
The plant is conceived as a space for designers to experiment with materials and diverse methods to bring novel products to life. The intuitive and efficient building layout is accentuated by solid stone blocks and long, glass-clad voids, favoring focus and stability.
Finally, an adjacent centralized storage space is ensures efficient and monitored gathering of both raw materials and finished products.
Working alongside suppliers, the company has developed a streamlined system for stocking and feeding natural raw materials into production lines in order to reduce waste and energy consumption. Furthermore, construction and architect partners worked alongside a professional LEED consultant to meet standards to obtain a Gold certification, with ambitions of reaching a platinum certification.