Eduardo Souto de Moura's Panoramah Factory in Porto Blends Production and Architecture

In Porto, Portugal, Eduardo Souto de Moura has crafted an upscale window manufacturing facility for Panoramah, which serves multiple purposes including a workshop, laboratory, meeting area, and space for contemplation. The design emphasizes research on windows and structural openings, featuring abstract forms surrounding a courtyard lined with trees. The structure comprises four prisms, measuring 8.20, 11, and 14.60 meters in height, all finished in white and gray tones, linked by an assembly line. It accommodates functions such as warehousing, assembly, production, and packaging, alongside communal spaces like a gym and dining area. Ground-level glass surfaces highlight carpentry solutions, while a ten-meter-high Window Observatory provides a view over the nave. During the opening, Souto de Moura expressed gratitude to fellow architects and introduced Fritz Neumeyer, who delivered a lecture on Mies van der Rohe.