Pastoe fabriek

Of Pastoe’s 60 employees, half work on production in the factory as craftsmen: cabinet-makers, fitters, painters and laquerers. But production is only one of the activities taking place in the monumental factory building. Since 1982, a part has been arranged as a showroom. Under the name, the Dutch Design Centre, it showcases national and international interiors brands, including Arco, Gelderland and Montis from the Netherlands and Kvadrat from Denmark. The centre attracts around 40,000 visitors annually. In addition, the Dutch Design Centre hosts several events in the field of design, such as Utrecht Manifest, the biennale for social design.

This recent development in the direction of less production, more showroom, is set to continue when Pastoe moves production to a different location in the neighbourhood. The move will free up the factory’s entire 12,000m2 of space, which will then be filled a new programme featuring creativity and interaction, with, for example, an art exhibition space, restaurant, theatre, and a designers’ lab. The Pastoe factory dates from 1918 and boasts a multi-layered construction and an unusual roof which creates particularly beautiful light effects. The location is on a waterway (in the past, this was essential for timber transport), allowing for the creation of a waterfront terrace.

Pastoe’s Director, Remco van der Voort, says of the plan for the Pastoe factory: “In many places in the Netherlands, empty factory buildings are being renovated and prepared to house creative entrepreneurs. People have already worked in the Pastoe factory for years, and it has received a lot of publicity. That’s unique. The factory was always there, it’s still there, and there it will stay. The Pastoe factory is becoming the factory of the 21st century: a transparent podium, where different groups can share knowledge, skills, ideas and experience in a creative process that must eventually contribute to economic, cultural and social renewal.”

Remco van der Voort
Director, Pastoe

Most proud of?
Pastoe

Dream job?
To direct a Rem Koolhaas project, like the TV tower in China. Or produce furniture designed by British architect John Pawson for the Novy Dvur Monastery in the Czech Republic.

Biggest opportunity for the creative industries?
Developing not only technical, but aesthetic sustainability, of form in the function of beauty, both at home and on the street. The more we create beautiful objects and buildings, the less we need to throw them away or demolish them.

www.pastoe.com
www.utrechtmanifest.nl

Back to the Creative Calling Cards