The district is named after the monumental former freezer house, located opposite to the redeveloped Campina factory now known as the mix-use neighborhood De Caai. Once a forgotten building, it became a post-industrial icon of the city and was nominated as a municipal monument, giving a start for a new cultural district to emerge around it. Koelhuis District will complete a cultural axis that stretches from the city’s west side, Strijp-T, through the inner city to the other side of the canal, adjacent to the relocated Design Academy Eindhoven.

 

Known as Brainport’s Immersive Experience District, Koelhuis District will function as a Living Lab—a dynamic laboratory where the community collaborates and immersive technologies are applied for educational and artistic purposes. The cultural and tech hub at the heart of the district will focus on new media art, immersive technology, and contemporary culture, aiming to make complex themes more accessible to the public through (digital) immersive experiences. The district will offer permanent and affordable living and working spaces for creative and technical talent, becoming a permanent incubator retaining talent in the city. Although Koelhuis is a cultural district and an official member of the Global Cultural District Network, its influence extends far beyond culture. It impacts various areas, including urban planning, housing, sustainability, the economy, and more.

 

Koelhuis District Eindhoven consists of:

Koelhuis Eindhoven (cultural and tech hub)

Koelhuis Village (residential program)

Koelhuis Courtyards (makerspaces and community spaces)

Koelhuis City Hub (smart mobility and energy hub)

 

The district is a concept by Concrete Culture, developed by Bakkers | Hommen. Concrete Culture embeds art, culture, and technology permanently within urban developments, transforming them into sustainable communities. Koelhuis District Eindhoven is a leading example of Concrete Culture’s vision that aims to move beyond using creativity as a temporary tool, focusing instead on designing environments where these elements have a lasting presence.