Kruitfabriek Muiden by Zecc Architecten

Situated at the entrance to De Krijgsman, the newly developed mixed-use district along the IJmeer in Muiden, Kruitfabriek marks a bold architectural gesture that honors the site’s industrial legacy while embracing contemporary living. Designed by Zecc Architecten, this multifunctional building seamlessly integrates a ground-floor Albert Heijn supermarket with 36 residential apartments, all set within a robust, expressive framework of brick, steel, and glass. The result is an urban ensemble that connects past and present, commerce and dwelling, openness and shelter.

Urban Gateway to De Krijgsman

De Krijgsman is an ambitious development of approximately 1,300 homes, carefully set in a green and partly historic landscape. As the first built structure encountered upon entering this new district, Kruitfabriek functions as both an architectural anchor and urban activator. It occupies a prominent corner lot, its facades engaging with three sides—the market square, the street, and the corner—through distinctive yet coherent expressions.

The building’s multi-oriented design ensures a dynamic presence from all viewpoints. Classical architectural elements, reinterpreted through a contemporary industrial lens, inform the massing and detailing. The transparent upper floors are elevated atop a solid brick plinth, echoing the material and scale of the surrounding structures, while providing a sense of grounded permanence.

A Dialogue of Industry and Community

Inspired by the site’s past as a gunpowder factory, Kruitfabriek draws upon the aesthetics of industrial architecture. Its pronounced roofline—featuring shed roofs and angular silhouettes—references historical forms while complying with the area’s design guidelines that required a “special roof termination.” These sharp geometries help articulate the building’s distinctive crown, giving it a recognizable skyline within De Krijgsman.

This crown is not merely symbolic; it plays an active role in shaping the interior living experience. On the third floor, the shed roofs create loft-like spaces with exposed rooflines that bring character and openness to the apartments. These residences also offer expansive views over the IJmeer, reinforcing the feeling of living between sky and water.

Residential Living Above Retail

The Albert Heijn supermarket occupies the entirety of the ground floor, activating the public realm while concealing a semi-sunken parking garage for residents and visitors, accommodating 50 cars and private storage units. Above this active plinth, the residential floors (first to third) are arranged around a lush internal courtyard, providing a tranquil green oasis at the heart of the building.

Apartments range from 75 to 110 m², featuring flexible three- and four-room layouts. Each dwelling is oriented to maximize exposure to the surroundings, with living spaces positioned along the outer façades. This design choice ensures constant engagement with the rich natural and historical context of Muiden.

Architectural Rhythm and Material Expression

The facades are articulated through a rich interplay of materials and typologies. The brick base is meticulously detailed with sintered accents and vertical brickwork, creating texture and rhythm. Above, the steel framework supports residential units, clad in ribbed, dark brown panels that continue the building’s vertical language. The folded metalwork lends depth and shadow play, contributing to the building’s industrial elegance.

Each facade responds to its orientation and context:

• On the south, steel slat railings define outdoor spaces.

• On the east, glass balustrades serve a dual role—as visual barriers and acoustic buffers from the nearby highway.

• Balconies and loggias vary in width and positioning, offering individuality within the overarching structural logic.

Notably, the double façade facing the market square combines generous balconies and greenery, providing both privacy and public engagement. This interface allows residents to feel immersed in the square’s activity, yet sheltered from it—blurring the boundary between community life and private retreat.

A Seamless Blend of Past and Future

Kruitfabriek stands adjacent to the former boiler house, one of several preserved industrial structures within De Fabriek, a vibrant sub-area where amenities, commerce, and culture converge. This historical context has informed every design decision—from materiality and massing to public interaction and circulation. The building doesn’t merely coexist with its historic neighbors—it converses with them, extending their legacy into the present day.

The main entrance to the residences, distinguished by a vertical green wall and framed within a rectangular volume, subtly interrupts the shed roof sequence, signaling arrival and emphasizing the importance of the human scale within this robust architectural statement.

Living Among the Trees

Upon entering, residents pass through a calm, planted courtyard, creating a moment of transition from the urban to the intimate. The gallery circulation wraps around this interior garden, encouraging neighborhood interaction and passive surveillance. The integration of greenery—within balconies, façades, and communal areas—adds softness to the structure’s industrial language, resulting in an environment that is both tactile and welcoming.

From certain perspectives, particularly those on the third floor, the effect is almost surreal: thanks to transparent balustrades and dense landscaping, it can feel like you’re living among treetops, suspended between city life and nature.

A New Chapter for Muiden

Kruitfabriek exemplifies how contemporary architecture can be rooted in history, functionality, and sustainability. By combining retail, parking, and residential living in a single cohesive volume, and expressing this union through material richness and industrial elegance, Zecc Architecten has created a building that does more than house people—it defines place.

As De Krijgsman continues to grow, Kruitfabriek will remain its architectural gatekeeper: a welcoming landmark, a bridge to the past, and a blueprint for the future.

Photography: Stijn Poelstra