CaballeroFabriek
Following the success of the the first phase of the CaballeroFabriek,
completed in 2006, the second phase has been accepted in December
2008, and had its' official opening in June 2009. The former tobacco
factory building on the Binckhorst industrial estate has been transformed
into a lively environment, comprising studios and offices for companies in
the fields of Culture, IT and Media
The concept for the CaballeroFabriek in the Hague is to stimulate creative
and innovative activities amongst the tenants. Cross-fertilization between
the various disciplines will be enhanced by linking commercial activity and
culture. This cross-fertilization is the leading theme for the CaballeroFabriek
redevelopment scheme. Therefore common spaces and meeting points
take centre stage.
The original factory building from 1953 has been retained, and recent
additions were demolished. The industrial character remains intact while
new functions stand out by their contrasting design, which refer to the
corporate identity of cigarette brand Caballero.
One of the main challenges was to redevelop the CaballeroFabriek in such
a way that the former factory building could become an environment where
companies could easily meet, interact and inspire each other. This vision
has been translated by GROUP A into a spatial concept that stimulates
creative and innovative activities and cross-fertilization between the
different companies. As a result the design has introduced lounge areas.,
wide corridors and common spaces. The newly created wide corridors
double as informal meeting areas and have become the spine of the
CaballeroFabriek.
Daylight is another key item in the building; the sliding doors that give
access to the offices and studios are made almost fully from transparent
Rodeca, in order to create an light, open and accessible work environment
The building is surrounded on three sides by water, and encircles an inner
yard. This yard has been enlarged by demolishing a part of the recently
added factory hall, thus providing the tenants with a large outdoor terrace.
Both entrances are situated next to this terrace, which enhances the lively
character of the CaballeroFabriek. In addition, the former boiler room
building opposite to the factory can be used for events and dinner parties .
The CaballeroFabriek is not only meant to be used by tenants, but also has
a relevant public function. Visitors from outside the factory can drink coffee
at the espresso bar and rent meeting rooms. The central area of the former
factory hall has been redeveloped into a large hall for events, and can be
used as a congress room, a television studio and an exhibition room. This
events hall is linked to a central patio with a Japanese style inner garden.
The CaballeroFabriek is one of the first projects to be finished on the
Binckhorst, designated as a development area by the City of The Hague.
The public and lively character of the factory building will provide this
former industrial estate, close to the inner city centre, with an extra, muchneeded
impulse.
In 2006 the CaballeroFabriek has won both the Jury Award ass well as the
Audience Award of the Nieuwe Stad Prijs of The Hague. For the first time
in the history of this prize two awards went to the same project. The jury
voted unanimously for the project by GROUP A, and 40% of the public
chose the CaballeroFabriek as their favourite project of the year.
Type: Redevelopment Industrial Building
Team: Maarten van Bremen, Adam Visser, Folkert van Hagen, Suzanne Linders,
Jos Overmars, Jasper Hermans, Niclas Frenning, Tom Neu, Gebina Harren,
Daniel Hoewekamp, Brigitte van der Tuin, Nir Goldberg, Paulo Moreno,
Birgitta Rottmann, Eveline van den Berg Jeths, Silvio Carta, Joep Fessl
Project Address: Saturnuslaan, Binckhorst, The Hague
Country: the Netherlands
Start design: September 2003
Final acceptance: December 2008
Dimensions: 14.500 m2
