The former BAT cigarette factory in Zevenaar has been given a new purpose. The impressive production hall from 1952 has been transformed into a multifunctional building for various cultural and socio-economic organizations. The library, the Liemers Museum, Filmhuis Zevenaar, Caleidoz Welzijn, Streekarchivariaat De Liemers en Doesburg, RSD de Liemers, and the municipality of Zevenaar offer social, cultural, and educational programs here for the residents of De Liemers.

The starting point for the design was the preservation of the industrial heritage. The hall is clear in layout with long sightlines, large skylights, and an impressive steel structure. The factory floor, ceilings, and pipes have all remained visible, maintaining the atmosphere of the factory.

Three large wooden volumes occupy a prominent place in the hall. Inside, there are two cinemas and a catering kitchen. On the north side of the building, the library is housed in a double-height space. The floor-to-ceiling bookshelves emphasize this height. The large events space, part of the catering concept, is flexible for gatherings, festivals, fairs, and concerts.

Sustainability is not just a buzzword here but applied throughout the project. Starting with the repurposing of the production hall itself. The wooden volumes are clad with old floorboards from a demolished building. The diamond pattern, inspired by the diamond-shaped masonry in the facade, gives this cladding its own character. Old overhead doors from the demolished halls behind HAL12 have been reused in the events space. The loose furniture in the library and catering primarily consists of second-hand furniture. Existing elements are supplemented with innovative new components such as LED lighting fixtures. It creates a beautiful mix of old and new.

Photography: Mike Bink

Projectteam Studio Groen+Schild:
Ellen Schild, Thijs Bongers, Rosanne Bommartini