Cocoa factory

Challenges for the Cocoa factory 

Part of the complex was lost to fire in 2008. In addition, the technical condition of the various volumes was poor and the bricks used in the main building were extremely fragile.

The revitalization reflects the original factory mainly in an abstracted interplay of forms. The previously destroyed hipped roof is back, but with a contemporary and playful appearance: the roof has a top layer of minimally
detailed stainless steel.

From cocoa to culture 

Since March 2014, the Cocoa factory has housed a cultural hotspot that includes a music venue, art-house cinema, exhibition space, catering and work spaces for companies in the creative industry. cepezed created the design and went for a contemporary, modern and recognizable cultural cluster.

Modern mineral paint with original appearance 

The façade walls of the main building had been painted countless times over the years and were very vulnerable. Bringing them back to their original state would have been a costly and time-consuming process. It would also have involved a high risk of moisture penetration.

So the façades were treated with white Keim, a mineral paint that adheres well and provides a great deal of protection, durability and colour fastness. In combination with the new stainless-steel roof, this gives an almost intangible impression, so that the building is still unmistakably recognizable as the cocoa factory.

Reused façade 

An extension added in the 1920s was in a very bad state of repair and was replaced by modern new-build for the creative industry. The existing façade alongside the water was reused and has remained a distinctive feature as a result. Together with the extension, the original main building forms a U-shaped inner courtyard above which the music venue and the central foyer have been housed.

Façade as screen 

In the interests of acoustic separation, penetration of natural light and spatial experience, the new-build has been placed at some distance from the base of the U-shape. The new-build has a distinctive industrial façade screen of vertically mounted anti-slip grilles. In collaboration with light architect Har Hollands, LED strips have been incorporated, so that the façade also functions as a display screen.