The Wirtgen Service and Trade Center in Krivina, Sofia, is a completed 2016 project by IPA - Architecture and more with a gross floor area of 1,260 sq m. Developed for Wirtgen Bulgaria, part of the international Wirtgen Group, the facility brings together administrative, commercial, warehouse, and service functions supporting the supply, maintenance, and repair of road construction machinery.
As part of the architectural design, the program is organized within two adjoining volumes. The lower volume accommodates the administrative areas, while the higher volume contains the warehouse and repair spaces. The two-story administrative wing includes offices, meeting rooms, and training halls for the company's sales, management, and advertising teams. The project forms part of the IPA - Architecture and more portfolio of industrial buildings.
The warehouse area provides space for storing parts and components required for service operations. A 20-ton crane occupies a key position within the service center and is used for machinery maintenance. In addition to the water, heating, and electrical systems, compressed air lines are integrated for use during repair operations.
The facade is clad in aluminum composite panels in the company's corporate colors. Finding the exact shades was a challenge for the IPA - Architecture and more team because the specific tones were relatively difficult to source in Bulgaria. The final solution uses Wirtgen's light and dark gray tones throughout both the exterior and interior of the building.
The professional yet welcoming character of the building is shaped by the transition between the facade colors and a series of architectural details. These include the modernist rail canopy above the main entrance to the administrative wing, the glazed entrance door, and the stairwell glazing on the second level, which visually opens the building.
In front of the building, IPA - Architecture and more provided an area for displaying the company's machinery, together with convenient access routes for equipment arriving for service. The combination of representative and service functions also connects the project with the studio's portfolio of commercial buildings.
