Italian architecture studio Archea Associati has designed a new factory for Lesko Srl, a company specialising in the design and production of building envelope systems. Located in Arquà Polesine, around 70 kilometres south-west of Venice, the building is conceived as a fully glazed structure with no opaque surfaces, defined by openness and visual continuity despite its industrial function.
Structure and spatial organisation
The factory is constructed entirely in timber, using planar primary and secondary beams and cruciform columns. These structural elements draw formal inspiration from the Doric columns of the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, on Italy’s southern coast, establishing a quiet reference to proportion and permanence.
The building is organised on a single ground-floor level, where production lines and administrative spaces coexist within a shared, open environment. Administrative areas are defined by glass partitions that maintain visibility across the floorplate. Production zones are not separated by conventional partitions or high shelving but are articulated through planted areas with greenery and trees, allowing visual connections to remain intact while introducing natural elements into the working environment.
Site regeneration and remediation
The sustainability approach of the Lesko Factory began before the actual project itself, through the regeneration and remediation of a compromised site. The development replaces a former nightclub damaged by fire and an abandoned furniture factory, both of which had contributed to a degraded and unhealthy environment over time.
The intervention involved complete demolition and comprehensive site remediation, including the controlled removal and disposal of substantial quantities of asbestos. This process restored the site to a safe and reusable condition. Sustainability is addressed here as a foundational act, centred on the repair and reuse of a neglected site.
Facade and building envelope
The aluminium facade system specified for the new headquarters is based on the Schüco FWS 50 system, adapted through an extensive process of customisation. While the system provided the technical framework, the mullions and facade cover caps were custom-extruded to bespoke profiles developed from the project’s design concept and drawings. The resulting glazed envelope is characterised by mullions measuring just 18 millimetres in width. With the building envelope composed entirely of glass, these elements are perceived less as structural components and more as fine linear traces across the facade surface.
Floor-to-ceiling windows are integrated using the Schüco AWS 90 BS.SI+ IT system. The concealed sash design supports visual continuity, while the window dimensions — 1,500 millimetres wide and 3,000 millimetres high — extend beyond the system’s standard range. Doors are formed using the Schüco ADS 65 system, with concealed hinges eliminating visible hardware. Skylights are realised using the Schüco AWS 57 RO system, integrated into the facade to maintain continuity between vertical and horizontal glazed elements.
Material palette and interior atmosphere
The interior palette is defined by three recurring tones: natural timber, RAL 7035 grey, and the green of the planted areas distributed throughout the building. These elements are used consistently across the factory, reinforcing a unified spatial language between production and administrative areas.
Longevity, equality, and transparency
The Lesko Factory was conceived as a building intended to endure. Robust, recyclable, and low-maintenance materials are combined with a flexible structural system that allows the building to adapt over time without losing functional or environmental relevance. Sustainability is addressed through long-term responsibility rather than short-term optimisation.
Developed entirely on a single level, the building reflects a deliberate absence of hierarchy. The same resin flooring, furnishings, and sanitary facilities are used throughout both production and administrative spaces, reinforcing an equal spatial condition across the workplace.
Transparency plays a central role in the daily experience of the building. Those working inside maintain a constant visual connection to the surrounding landscape and horizon. Shelving systems are limited to 1.5 metres in height, preserving clear sightlines across the interior and supporting a shared sense of openness.
