Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade, Glass, Windows, ChairNaturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Windows, HandrailNaturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Windows, Chair, FacadeNaturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior PhotographyNaturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - More Images+ 22

  • Architects: Hollandse Nieuwe
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4000
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2019
  • Photographs
    Photographs:Ewout Huibers
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  AutoDesk, Chaos Group, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Frits de Jong, Ginkelgroep, Hemlock, Lensvelt, Trimble Navigation, Trinity interieur, Verwol
  • Lead Architects: Christiaan Fokkema, Geoffrey Timmer
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Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Kitchen, Facade, Glass, Windows, Chair
© Ewout Huibers

Text description provided by the architects. After many years, the renovation of the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre is finally complete. Located in the city of Leiden, the Netherlands, the museum and research institute has been dramatically expanded and transformed, with Hollandse Nieuwe responsible for the interior transformation of the employee areas and research offices. Hollandse Nieuwe was involved in workplace strategy, support, and the complete interior design of the new working environments. Together with Naturalis, a workplace strategy and design were developed through a combination of workshops, analysis, and department shadowing by the design team. The central issue in the Naturalis project was in creating an appropriate design solution that catered for its diverse workforce, as researchers, museum staff, and support staff all had different requirements and activity patterns. Alongside these considerations, the building's technical and installation constraints also played a significant role in the development and definition of the final design.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Windows, Handrail
© Ewout Huibers

The Naturalis project is separated into several elements. The Dutch architects Neutelings Riedijk initially designed and renovated the new museum complex, the laboratories, and the office areas. These renovated offices were then transformed by Hollandse Nieuwe into new working environments, meeting areas, and leisure zones. The concept for the research and work areas is based on the core of Naturalis’ identity: Researching nature to preserve biodiversity. The idea of making this visible throughout the workplace became central to the design. Showing the research activities, displaying Naturalis’ collection, and experiencing the richness and beauty of nature became the means to achieve this.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography
© Ewout Huibers
Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Image 23 of 27
Ground Floor Plan
Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Stairs, Windows, Handrail
© Ewout Huibers

A secondary principle used was to make the architecture of the museum visible to the office of the employees and researchers, with the idea being that the museum must be experienced as a whole, from the public areas to the working environments. The oak frames used in the new museum have therefore been an important modular principle in designing custom walls and partitions, helping to extend the museum into the work areas. In addition to the oak frames, steel frames and large glass showcases have also been developed, inspired by museum exhibition furniture. In general, the simple material palette of oak, white, black, colour accents, coupled with a wide array of plants and graphic prints has been used throughout the space in order to align the office areas with Naturalis identity.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography
© Ewout Huibers

The office area is comprised of six floors and atrium space. The ground floor includes a meeting room, collection counters, meeting facilities, workplaces, and study locations. The office floors are accessed from the ground floor via a podium staircase that circles up next to the central void. The spaces adjacent to the atrium are designated as a communal area and contain a mix of meeting facilities, pantries, and informal seating. The centrally positioned void divides the two office spaces per floor into two parts. Meeting rooms, concentration rooms, and phone booths are alternately positioned between the workplaces, creating a balance between private and more open areas.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Table
© Ewout Huibers
Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Interior Photography, Bedroom, Door, Beam
© Ewout Huibers

The simple palette of oak, white, grey, and black is complemented by a graphic layer. This layer has been specially designed for Naturalis in collaboration with graphic agency Betiche and consists of abstract, colourful prints that reflect the research, collection, and richness of nature. The privacy films for the meeting rooms are also an abstraction of these natural patterns and are a recognizable and yet subtle reference to the Naturalis institute.

Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe - Exterior Photography
© Ewout Huibers

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Project location

Address:Leiden, The Netherlands

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: "Naturalis Biodiversity Center / Hollandse Nieuwe" 02 Aug 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/943502/naturalis-biodiversity-center-hollandse-nieuwe> ISSN 0719-8884

© Ewout Huibers

莱顿自然博物馆员工区域室内改造 / Hollandse Nieuwe

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