Hukx

clients(s)

Hukx

location

Delft

users(s)

Hukx

Hukx develops, assembles, and tests sensors and equipment for measuring heat flux, solar radiation, and thermal conductivity. In 2014, cepezed designed a company building for Hukx in Delft, and nearly a decade later, realised an expansion that more than doubled the floor space. The design principles remained unchanged: even with the extension, the building retains its clear, efficient, and industrial character. A new feature is the light-filled, double-height space at the heart of the building, designed for lunches, meetings, and gatherings.

A building on stilts

The Hukx premises stand elevated on stilts on a relatively narrow plot in the Delftechpark. The rear section of the elongated structure is the original part, with the extension almost doubling its length. A central atrium was introduced, while the new section at the front gained a third storey. The building accommodates a variety of functions, from precision assembly to research and office work, which are now more logically distributed throughout. Beneath the building, space is allocated for parking, as well as a loading and unloading zone. The existing section was also upgraded with improved lighting, temperature control, and air circulation.

Exposed prefab components

Hukx is a quintessential cepezed kit-of-parts design, featuring prefabricated components that remain exposed. The floors are predominantly composed of TT slabs spanning the full width (16m). The façade is clad in dark, corrugated profile panels, while strips of glazing within an aluminium frame system ensure ample daylight entry. Apart from the new atrium, the extension maintains the façade proportions of the original building. The double-height atrium features full-glass façades, with broad, perpendicular trellises on the exterior. The climbing greenery on these trellises softens the transition between the façade and the outdoor space while reducing solar heat gain.

Light-filled, multifunctional atrium

The multifunctional, double-height atrium is both representative and inviting, balancing a sense of spaciousness with a homely atmosphere. It serves various functions, from casual lunches and hosting guests to one-on-one meetings and presentations. Furnished with a lounge sofa and a grand piano, the space can even be used for company celebrations. The layout consists of three zones, with circulation routes along the length of the space and a central service counter that also functions as a bar. The tables, designed in the same industrial aesthetic as the counter, reinforce the cohesive interior concept. A distinctive feature is the tropical tree in the entrance stairwell, reaching up into the atrium’s lofty space.

Werkplekken hukseflux cepezed — léon van woerkom | Cepezed

Assembly & offices

The first-floor areas flanking the atrium are dedicated to assembly and storage. The new assembly floor includes a cleanroom, centrally positioned in the floor plan for technical reasons. Two glazed walls connect it visually to the surrounding workspace. The second floor of the original building is allocated for research and development, while the second and third floors of the new section accommodate office functions. Open-plan office spaces are supplemented with enclosed meeting rooms and phone booths, all featuring glass partitions to maximise daylight penetration. The openness of the interior fosters interaction among employees.

A touch of blue

The open-plan layout and exposed technical elements—such as the steel connections—give Hukx an industrial aesthetic. However, carefully curated accents of colour and design elements ensure a comfortable working environment. In the existing building, red is the accent colour, appearing in small seating areas. For the atrium and the extension, the chosen accent is blue, derived from Hukx's logo. The lounge sofa, designed by cepezedinterieur, comprises elements in various shades of blue, while vivid blue surfaces reappear in the service counter and the benches in the oversized phone booths.

Furniture design

For the storage areas, cepezed previously designed white cabinets integrating pantry facilities, printers, and upholstered seating nooks. For the atrium, cepezedinterieur designed the industrial-style service counter, complete with an overhead frame featuring LED lighting and mirrored pendant lamps. The staircase design references the existing stair structure, while in the new stairwell, the raw concrete remains visible - subtly refined with vertical LED strips and a delicate steel-wire handrail.

Kantoren hukseflux cepezed — léon van woerkom

hukseflux delft bouwupdate Lucasvanderwee cepezed

cepezedbouwteam & cepezedprojects

In 2014, cepezedprojects acted as housing consultant and project manager. For the extension, cepezedprojects advised on the programme of requirements, while cepezedbouwteam managed the partial tendering process and oversaw the construction. The confined site demanded careful coordination, particularly for lifting in the tree, constructing the cleanroom, elevating the structure on stilts, and seamlessly connecting the new section to the existing building, which remained operational throughout the process. The predominantly glazed end façade of the original building was only removed once the new extension was completed.

‘It is timeless’

According to director Eric Hoeksema, the cepezed design immediately resonated with him: “We are essentially a small, clean manufacturing facility, and this industrial architecture suited us perfectly. The design had an inviting quality that made us feel at home, and it is timeless. I was also drawn to the elevated structure, considering the increasing risk of flooding. cepezed’s approach is technical, sleek, modular, flexible, and light. Their presentation was clear, and we received well-structured answers to complex questions. When we decided to expand, working with cepezed again was an obvious choice.”

contact

mail bd@cepezed.nl or call our
business development team
on +31 (0)15 2150000

partners

client: hukx
architect: cepezed
interior design: cepezedinterieur
Project Management & Construction Coordination: cepezedbouwteam
Housing Consultancy & Initial Phase Advisory: cepezedprojects
Structural Engineer: pieters bouwtechniek
Building Physics Consultancy: Physibuild
Mechanical & Electrical Engineering & installation: Solutionlab
Piling Works: Fundex
Concrete Foundation & Exposed Concrete Floors: Olijerhoek
Prefabricated Concrete Structure: Holcon
Steel Structure: Hofman Staalbouw
External Façades: Prince Cladding Obdam
Site & Groundworks: Van der Helm
Interior Partitions & Ceilings: Vega Projects
Roofing: Roofprojection
Cleanroom Construction: Cleanroom Systems International
Cleanroom Installations: Weiss Technik
Cleanroom advisory: Theun Kemps
Landscaping & Paving: Hoveniersbedrijf Koen Huisman