In 2012, François Dumas and three fellow graduates from the Design Academy Eindhoven founded Krux, a creative workspace established in collaboration with the City of Amsterdam. Located in a former industrial building on the east docklands, Krux was part of the city’s Broedplaatsen initiative, an effort to revitalise neighbourhoods through artist-led studios.
The founders developed a comprehensive proposal that balanced practical vision with community ambition, curating a space where craftsmanship and creativity could flourish side by side. Inspired by an early 20th-century Parisian streetscape, the vast interior was transformed into a village of unique workshops, aligned but never identical.
With facilities for metalwork, woodworking, ceramics, and silkscreen printing, the space hosted 30 studios for designers, artists, and makers from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. This rich mix fostered exchange, shared tools, and collaborative learning.
Beyond production, Krux became a hub for design workshops and partnerships with cultural institutions and industry. It operated as a vibrant node of creativity until its closure in 2017.
