Atelier ST
Mühle Shaving
best architects 25
commercial/industrial buildings
Place
Leipzig, Germany
Studio
Photos
Simon Menges
Description
Clocks, porcelain, shaving brushes: There is hardly anywhere else in Germany where there is as much precision craftsmanship as in Saxony. Deep in the Ore Mountains, the family business Mühle has been producing fine shaving products for around 80 years. Made locally and by hand from aluminium, wood, porcelain, resin and badger hair, these products are known to shavers all over the world. Our task was to densify the narrow factory site with a new replacement building. The new building was to become part of the existing complex and yet, at second glance, stand out in a contemporary way. At first glance, the new production hall therefore looks like a pragmatic industrial building. On closer inspection, however, it reveals a sophistication that corresponds exactly to Mühle’s products and working methods: local and high-quality, traditional and modern, sharp-edged yet gentle. Integrated into the slope at the rear, the large Hall 4 opens up along its entire length towards the factory yard. Aluminium profiles set on edge structure the large-format glass façade. Mirror-smooth, it has a silvery shimmer with its mix of metal and glass and bathes the interior of the hall in natural daylight, providing a generous view of the manufacturing work. Inside, sorting, finishing and packaging take place. The untreated wooden surfaces create a warm atmosphere. This was a natural choice of material for us, because wood not only stands for Mühle’s roots in the region but also for its dedication to sustainable production methods.