About Industria
Industria is a multi-story light-industrial scheme in the UK. It was designed by Haworth Tompkins for Be First, the regeneration company of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. The scheme offers over 11,400 sqm of floor space, with 45 small and medium enterprises spread across four levels. The spaces range from 20 to 450 sqm. It was designed to accommodate various light industrial uses and has the potential to provide employment for up to 300 people once fully occupied.
© Fred Howarth
Concept Of Industria
The building has two linear wings on each side of three levels of 26m-wide service decks. There is a spiral ramp with a diameter of 30m that allows direct vehicle access to the decks. The units in the building are 7m high and have natural light and ventilation. They can also have mezzanine levels for customized layouts. One of the wings has an additional floor for smaller-scale tenants, start-ups, and incubator units. The building was designed in collaboration with Ashton Smith Associates, an industrial specialist. © Fred Howarth
The multi-level design goes beyond the norm for low-rise developments. It includes 2,000 sqm of photovoltaic solar panels that can produce 297,198 kWh of electricity per year, which is sufficient to power around 100 homes. It is also expected to receive BREEAM Excellent certification due to its long lifespan and excellent thermal insulation.
© Fred Howarth

The focus of the scheme is employee well-being and community. The...