OTTOBOCK, the German leader in the production of high-tech prosthetics, biological implants, and orthopaedic devices, entrusted the team of IPA – Architecture and more with the design and delivery of its new facility in Bulgaria. The facility in Blagoevgrad is the company’s tenth worldwide. The newly built complex manufactures a wide range of the brand’s products - advanced prosthetics, orthoses, and wheelchairs - and is the only OTTOBOCK location that also produces orthopaedic textile products.
The facility occupies the grounds of the former “Strumatex” factory, which led to the project being divided into two major components: construction of new buildings and contemporary renovation of the existing structures that would be preserved. By allocating functions in a way that best supports the company’s operational needs, the team of IPA – Architecture and more successfully met the challenge of utilising the 45-decare site efficiently while ensuring seamless coordination between the newly built and the existing buildings.
All OTTOBOCK products and components are handcrafted, which made employee comfort and optimal working conditions the leading priority for our architects. This was achieved by designing seated workstations positioned logically along the production process, ensuring connection between employees while also providing sufficient personal space for their tasks. The production areas are separated by specialised partitions that define the different stages of the workflow. A key requirement is the precise microclimate, dictated by the specifics of this type of manufacturing. The controlled environment includes humidity and dust management, various filtration systems, and regulated air-supply velocity. Throughout the design and construction stages, all high standards for quality and microclimate set by OTTOBOCK were strictly followed.
All finished products are transported to the company’s central warehouse in Germany, from where they are distributed to more than 60 countries. For this reason, ample storage rooms and shelving areas were integrated into the design.
Lightness and spaciousness guided the architectural approach for the administrative zone, which includes a lobby, meeting rooms, and both small and large offices tailored to the needs of each department. Structural stability is ensured through steel and reinforced concrete slabs and frames, while the facade features white panel cladding contrasted by graphite-coloured window framing. The facade’s colour palette continues into the interior, complemented by accents in green, cyan, light blue, and dark blue - enhancing the sense of freshness, purity, and openness.
OTTOBOCK entrusted IPA – Architecture and more with the full design process, and the result speaks for itself. The OTTOBOCK facility was awarded first prize in the “Industrial Buildings” category at the Building of the Year 2021 national competition.
