Loods M is an international maritime hotspot for innovation, learning, and experience. More than a building, it is a catalyst for the cultural and economic regeneration of the marine identity of the port city of Maassluis. New developments are necessary because the economic vitality and attractiveness of the historic city center are under pressure. Ecological, economic, and social sustainability are the starting points of this future-oriented urban development. Loods M plays a key role in fostering intergenerational collaboration and sustainable innovations by applying knowledge from the past in a contemporary and future-oriented way that celebrates Maassluis's past and future.
‘Reincarnation’ of a Ship
The rich maritime identity and culture of Maassluis are made visible, tangible, and accessible in and through the building. The building’s striking wooden structure uses “shipbuilding intelligence,” aiming for optimal performance with minimal renewable materials. The wooden frames, resembling the ribs of a hull, give the building its shape and strength, topped up by the inverted hull of a reclaimed container ship as a roof. By inverting the hull, the invisible becomes visible, anchoring the past in the present.
The multifunctional hub integrates two museums with collections dedicated to the city’s history and the towage maritime heritage. Visitors can walk under, around, and through the museum ship De Hudson. This sailing heritage hangs from the roof of Loods M. Innovation laboratories for startups and educational workshops focus on sustainable solutions for the maritime sector. The ground floor is a vibrant social meeting space for citizens, visitors, students, and researchers, serving as Maassluis's living room.
Circularity
Loods M reduces embodied and operational carbon emissions through its innovative approach to circularity and building as a service, prioritizing renewable resources and material efficiency and embracing adaptive reuse. The project honors Maassluis’s maritime heritage and paves the way for a carbon-conscious future.
Wood, a renewable and carbon-sequestering material, is central to Loods M’s design. The building’s structural framework reduces embodied carbon compared to traditional materials and also stores CO2, actively contributing to climate mitigation.
