YETI Headquarters / JRK72

Architects: JRK72
Area: 1125 m²
Year: 2012
Photographs: Krzysztof Zgoła, Jakub Certowicz
Structural Engineers: Lechprojekt, Marta Weszke, Leszek Weszke
Co Authors: Klaudia Fiegler, Dariusz Gajewski, Michał Krawczyk
Collaborators: Paweł Dadok
Architect-in-Charge: Jacek Krych
Team: JRK72
City: Kryspinów
Country: Poland

YETI Headquarters, designed by JRK72 near Krakow, Poland, serves as the office and production space for an advertising agency specializing in precision machining of advertising materials. The building deviates from typical hall structures by incorporating an atrium that enhances natural light and user experience. The design merges the concept of an atrial house with a hall, featuring a translucent facade of multi-layered polycarbonate and insulated panels that face the A4 motorway. This facade not only reflects the company’s identity but also stands out, especially at night, revealing the activity within and reducing the building’s visual impact on the landscape. The use of industrial materials throughout the interior and exterior showcases the versatility of polycarbonate, emphasizing the connection between the building’s interior, facade, and overall form.

The building is situated on a plot in Kryspinów, near Krakow, Poland, close to the A4 motorway. The surrounding area consists of service and production facilities, including a stonemason, gas station, truck service station, home appliances warehouse, and a highway protection zone, which is largely a wasteland.

The architectural concept aimed to create a single-storey hall that deviates from the typical hall archetype, which is often characterized by a large, monotonous plan, visually unappealing interiors, and a disruptive impact on the landscape.

The investor required the headquarters to be a mixed-use space combining office and production areas, with a unique design that clearly aligns with the company’s profile.

The architectural concept was to create a single-storey hall that diverges from the typical hall archetype, characterized by a large, monotonous plan and visually unappealing interiors that disrupt the landscape.

The design merges two building archetypes—the atrial house and the hall—by integrating an atrium (patio) within the hall’s structure. This layout enhances the user experience by naturally illuminating the offices, meeting rooms, assembly hall, and social facilities.

The investor, recognized for high-quality products and precision plastic processing, chose to prominently feature plastic in the building’s facade to reflect the company’s identity. The facades are constructed primarily from multi-layered polycarbonate panels and insulated panels.

The translucent plastic facade, facing the A4 motorway, enhances the visibility of the company’s location and highlights its profile, particularly during the evening and night.

The parchment-like elevation at dusk and night reveals the inner activity of the building, giving the facade a dynamic, changing appearance. Unlike a lifeless tin block, the building’s organic form contrasts with the typical rectangular shape of halls. Without vertical edges, it appears smaller and less visually intrusive within the landscape.

The use of typical industrial materials like polycarbonate and insulated panels for both the exterior and interior of the building showcases their creative potential. The insulated facade panels, which create an oval elevation, extend into the building and break at several points to shape the interior. Multi-layered polycarbonate panels dominate the interior walls and office ceilings. These design choices create a strong connection between the building’s interior, facade, and overall form.