Maakplaats Hem | KettingHuls

KettingHuls is involved in the transformation of an industrial building into a Maakplaats (‘Production Place’). The building is located at no. 2 Nieuwe Hemweg on the Amsterdam industrial estate Hempoint, marking the transition between the city’s western ports and the Westerpark. To the north, Minervahaven is being developed into a ‘zuidas’ (exemplary Dutch development) for the creative industries and the Houthavens are being transformed into a new Amsterdam residential district. On the other side, the Westerpark is being extended northward to become Groot Westerpark, perhaps including a new Westerpark Station, and this part of Amsterdam will be further transformed into an urban port.  

Together with S-coop’s Saline Verhoeven, Kettinghuls is also involved in a study of the building’s environment. The study is about the role the building and its immediate environment play in the accessibility of Minervahaven, with its ever-increasing activity. Because Minervahaven and the Houthavens are now accessible from a single direction only, achieving an entrance through Hempoint is desirable. Though in the short term a good motorway connection is not feasible, a bike connection is: continuing the bike track from the western neighbourhoods through the Westerpark will create a new bike track between Hempoint and the Zonnehoek vegetable gardens.