Located in Karaj, a suburb of Tehran, a newly completed building that hosts the headquarters for Cinnagen, a biopharmaceutical company, features two distinct volumes with seemingly opposing architectural languages. While one half of the complex consists of a warm, brown brick facade with interior gardens for each office, the second half boasts an ornately patterned white skin. Marking the administrative zones and the production zones, respectively, the two volumes are connected via pedestrian bridges.

Driven by the challenges of the project, Modaam Architects designed the complex by arranging and interweaving different spaces and functions, including production spaces, storage, technical facilities, administrative spaces, offices and labs. These areas has to further be integrated in a complex of different open, closed and semi-closed volumes. The solution, the architects said, was to link three different masses with three different functional roles: a mass for the technical facilities; a mass for production spaces, supportive functions and storages; and a mass for the labs, offices and administrative fucntions.

The volumes were later developed. The facilities and production masses were designed as a giant white cube, while the administrative and office functions were located in a glass cube that was wrapped in brick.

Green open spaces were added for the employees as break out areas for interaction and relaxation.