After having graduated from the Design Academy in Eindhoven and won the prize of the Design Parade Fair from Villa Noailles in 2010, François Dumas banded with three friends from the Design Academy – Gero Asmuth, Erasmus Scherjon et Dajo Bodisco – to create Krux in 2012.
In collaboration with the city of Amsterdam, they designed and built a workspace in an industrial building on the east docklands.
In order to gentrify some areas, the municipality initiated a grant program to encourage the creation of Broedplaatsen (collective studio buildings for artists and creatives).
A strong proposal was needed from François Dumas and his acolytes presenting their idea in its globality, in a practical way, one that took into account their vision, their ambitions, as well as the selection process of the candidates wishing to come and work in this place.
The large warehouse interior was completely refurbished using as a model of an early 20th century image of an old-school Parisian street in which the craftsmen shops are aligned but not alike.
On top of diverse production workshops (metal, wood, ceramic, silkscreen…) the space was composed of thirty units hosting craftsmen, artists and designers selected to create this multidisciplinary environment.
In a concentration of creativity, one could find makers from varied horizons, cultures, working on different disciplines nourishing and complementing each other. The idea was to mingle several sectors so that all players could share their tools and knowledge.
In this large multidisciplinary space was also initiated design workshops with cultural institutions and industrial partners.
Krux closed in 2017.
