Four former munitions depots the ‘Hembrug Bunkers’ have been transformed into private housing, ateliers, and a bakery. Originally built in 1917 and once sealed off from daylight, the bunkers have been opened up to their surroundings while preserving their historic character.

Context
In 2019, krft set out to transform four early examples of reinforced concrete munitions depots into private housing, ateliers, and a bakery. The depots were built in 1917 within Sectorpark Zaandam (Hembrugterrein), a key part of the Stelling van Amsterdam and the heart of the Dutch military industry —Now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Safely tucked away within bushes (AKA ‘het Plofbos’) and artificial hills because of explosion hazard, it was only twenty years ago that ammunition was still being produced and stored here.

Transformation
Originally sealed off from daylight, the bunkers were literally ‘opened up’ to connect them with their lush surroundings. This intervention involved piercing holes in the concrete structure while preserving the massive, monolithic character of the original buildings.

Today
Recently, the first families began moving into their new homes, each designing their own space to reflect their individual lifestyles—without exception, integrating living and working. Balancing these personal visions with the constraints of the site’s monumental status led to some highly unconventional housing solutions.