ZDM Laboratory Building

The ZDM Laboratory Building was designed in the development phase of Pardis Science and Technology Park, occupying a plot of approximately 900 square meters. Intended as a hub for research and production in the fields of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, the project responds to a set of demanding functional requirements while striving to preserve human-centered qualities within its architectural expression.

The site’s slope enabled the formation of two distinct access levels, vehicular and pedestrian creating clear functional separation and enhancing legibility. The building was positioned adjacent to a public green corridor, allowing the design to incorporate a connecting ramp that visually and spatially ties the complex to the surrounding urban fabric.

The spatial organization of the project is based on a strictly controlled functional hierarchy. The lower levels house technical and service zones including cold storage, clean laboratories, mechanical spaces, and the main warehouse. The upper floors accommodate production zones, administrative offices, a cafeteria, and executive suites. Vertical circulation was intentionally externalized by shifting the staircase into the building’s façade a strategy that not only animates the elevation through the visible movement of occupants, but also offers moments of escape from the highly regulated interior environment. These transitions especially during meal breaks introduce a psychological and spatial relief for those working in isolated or controlled lab environments.

On the southern elevation, a perforated secondary skin provides both solar shading and visual permeability. This screen moderates direct sunlight, supports cross-ventilation, and adds a cinematic quality to the façade through the silhouettes of people in motion along the exterior walkways. Internally, a sunken courtyard allows natural light to penetrate deep into the lower levels while providing passive ventilation and visual relief. It also functions as a shared space, connecting different programmatic layers across floors.

The design strives for a delicate balance between technical precision and architectural clarity. It integrates the strict hygienic and operational standards of laboratory work with spatial qualities such as light, greenery, openness, and movement. Despite the program’s complexity, the resulting building presents a clear, flexible, and calm spatial order that reflects both its scientific purpose and its human users.