In the desert town of Omid Alborz, Iran, a polymer factory stands out for its striking design and how it was shaped by its employees.
A factory built around its workers
The 2,200-square-meter process department of Shamim Polymer Factory, completed in 2024, was designed by Davood Boroojeni Office with a clear approach: observe first, build second. Before construction began, architects spent time on-site, watching how staff used existing spaces. Their findings reshaped the project.
Employees had already modified a nearby building in ways the original designers never expected. Rather than imposing a rigid plan, the team decided to incorporate the routines and needs they observed. The outcome is a factory that feels less like an industrial box and more like a space made for people.
One of the most unusual additions came from a simple observation: nearly every factory has a smoking area, but few designers consider it important. Here, the architects turned it into a feature. Transparent rooms on the east and west sides of the building serve as designated break spots, visually connected to the production floor but environmentally separate. They’re surrounded by green spaces, a rare sight in a desert industrial zone.
A chicken coop also became part of the design. When a worker suggested keeping chickens, the architects agreed. Now, roosters and hens roam a free-range enclosure built atop a one-meter block wall just outside the building. It’s an unexpected detail for a polymer plant, but one that reflects the project’s core idea: architecture should respond to its users, not the other way around.
Form follows function—and life
The building’s design is as unconventional as its amenities. Instead of a traditional rectangular layout, the architects chose an asymmetrical parallelogram, which can also be read as two geometric forms pushed together. Raw iron sheets on one side mark its industrial purpose, while masonry blocks on the other give it a softer, almost residential feel.
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A concrete staircase cuts through the southeast corner, appearing to float. The architects describe it as a symbol of movement and life, a deliberate contrast to the static nature of most factory designs. Sustainability was also a key consideration. The cement blocks in the walls came from nearby factories. The 1,000 cubic meters of soil excavated during construction were reused on-site. The roof includes a rainwater collection system, and natural ventilation was prioritized to improve thermal comfort.
This approach—designing for real-world use rather than abstract ideals—makes the factory different. Most industrial buildings are shaped by technical requirements alone. This one was shaped by the everyday realities of the people inside. The architects said the project began by asking what architecture could learn from a building already in use.
The result is a workplace that doesn’t just house production lines but accommodates the small details that make a job bearable. Whether it’s a place to step outside for a break or the sound of roosters in the morning, these choices acknowledge that a factory isn’t just a machine for making things—it’s a place where people spend their days.
For the workers at Shamim Polymer, that may be the most significant change of all.
The project shows how even industrial spaces can adapt to human needs. Similar ideas have been explored in other urban developments, like the revival of Mirvish Village, where community input shaped the design.
