Cement, Energy and Environment

Locating factories Can we imagine building an office or a residential tower, 1OOm high or more, without having an administrative agreement on the basis of an architectural plan, showing its precise appearance in relation to surrounding buildings and its integration into the existing site? The absence of archietectural concern dedicated to industrial facilities has sometimes been justified by the relative remoteness of their locations. This is an argument that certainly would not last long when you look at the history of some cement plants. New plants are usually still situated in areas where urban development is a few years away, but it is important to consider the pace of urban encroachment on a factory. Just look at some older cement plant sites that have invariably been caught up in, even landlocked by, the urban development that they have fed . If you want to build a city, then start by building a factory! By tomorrow you'll soon have a concentration of population with housing, then shops, schools, etc everything that makes the city. The first generation will know the reason for their presence close by to the factory, reducing travel time and cost. However, for the next generation this will not always be the case as the plant may require less workers and fewer hands, because of the impact that automated processes have on the production process today. They therefore end up wondering why there is this monster of a pollutant factory in the middle of the city. A potential conflict of interest The global awareness of the visual impact of design is an essential message that we have to get across. Integrating an architectural component in specifications to meet the demands of our environment is a growing trend. Communities and local associations are partners and are directly concerned by these developments. Their task is not easy, because they cannot oppose everything and have to be constructive. Preserving an activity is a collective benefit. This is where the visual impact comes naturally, although it is not recognized as such , in addition to sustainable development criteria. The worrying aspect of a plant's environment becomes a necessity although this should have always been the case. 19