Kraanbolwerk, Zwolle

The crane on the quay was used for loading and unloading and could be recognized by its distinctive shape: half of a sphere. And that is what this island near the city centre owes its name to. The industrial past serves as the inspiration for a new future for this unique inner-city location.

With the demolition of factory buildings such as Schaepman Lakfabrieken, and the construction of around 130 homes, the city gets its island back. In the heart of Zwolle, within the confines of the canals, the location of the old paint factory has been redeveloped into a high-quality residential area.

 

Climate adaptive
Kraanbolwerk is designed at a higher water level than the inner city of Zwolle. This means that the building is ready for extreme water levels that may occur in the future. All the houses, but also the electricity facilities such as transformers, are built on a level of 2.70m +NAP (Normal Amsterdam Water Level), which ensures that they will always stay dry. The underground residential car park can be sealed off watertight to prevent water from entering. The residential car park serves as a buffer between the water and the homes. Additional tension piles (450) ensure that the upward force of the groundwater on the residential car park is resisted. The rainwater is visibly drained away to the waterways that surround the Kraanbolwerk peninsula on three sides. This creates a tangible sense of connection with the water throughout the area. The 130 homes are being developed in four phases, the first of which was completed last year. The development is surrounded by water on three sides and has a large underground car park.

We bring locations to life in consultation with future residents and other stakeholders. Because we don’t just want to create homes, but also an environment people enjoy to live in and spend time in. In workshops, we have brainstormed with residents about what their future living environment should look like.