Neutelings Riedijk design new Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden

Leiden, The Netherlands

The following description is courtesy of Neutelings Riedijk.

Naturalis is the national research institute for biodiversity dating from 1820 which was founded by King Willem I in Leiden, The Netherlands. The institute with a long and rich history experienced an exponential growth in the last decade which led to an urgent necessity to renovate. The number of visitors increased rapidly to 400.000 per year. The new future proof Naturalis brings the growing collection of 42 million objects together (top five in the world). Its new state of the art facilities accommodate more than two hundred researchers whose studies are at the center of attention, contributing solutions to global issues including climate change, the decline of biodiversity on earth, food supply and water quality. The Naturalis facilities and the collection enable to contribute solutions at the highest level. At the same time the new museum offers the chance to show the public the wealth and beauty of nature.

The institute’s new design forms a sustainable ensemble of existing buildings and new-build, with each activity housed in a specific form. The central atrium connects the various parts of the institute: the existing offices and depots with the newly built museum and laboratories. The design of the atrium consists of a three-dimensional concrete structure in the form of interlocking molecules as a lace of ovals, triangles and hexagons. The filtered light that enters through the circular windows as a ‘glass crown’ where scientists, staff, students and families meet, reinforcing the monumentality of the space.

Public functions such as the restaurant, the shop and the exhibition hall can be found on the ground floor where passers-by can catch sight of the examinations of the last whales washed ashore. The main staircase leading up to exhibitions resembles a mountain path, becoming narrower at the top with enough space to welcome Trix, the sixty-six million years old T-Rex which has been given pride of place in the Dino Era gallery.

The exterior of exhibition halls with stone blocks in horizontal layers mimicks a geological structure. Its travertine variety of stone used has developed natural crystals over the span of eons, creating a beautiful sparkle. The layers of stones are interrupted by friezes of white, concrete elements designed by a famous Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen. Invited by Neutelings Riedijk Architects, she designed a total of 263 panels, inspired by the natural shapes of the collection which seem to be smooth as silk, thanks to a special technique developed for Naturalis. Such a resemblance to fabric is a nod to the innovative dresses designed by Van Herpen for celebrities like Cate Blanchett, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga.

Inside the museum, Dutch designer Tord Boontje known for his lighting, furniture and fabrics with exquisite floral and animal motifs, shows almost 100 striking and colorful wall panels. They are visual stories that blend photography and drawing to reveal the wonders of the natural world.

The project covers a total of around 38,000 m2 of which 18,000 m2 of renovation and 20,000 m2 of new construction.

Project Information

General

Program: museum 17.000 sqm, offices en depots 18.000 sqm, laboratories 3.000 sqm

Surface area: total of 38.000 sqm of which 20.000 sqm new built and 18.000 sqm renovation of existing buildings

Location: Darwinweg 2, Leiden, the Netherlands

Client: Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Start design: March 2013

Start construction: Jan 2017

Completion: May 2019

In use: August 2019

Design Team

Architectural design: Neutelings Riedijk Architecten Architectural

Design team: Michiel Riedijk, Willem Jan Neutelings, Frank Beelen, Kenny Tang, Guillem Colomer Fontanet, Jolien Van Bever, Inés Escauriaza Otazua, Marie Brabcová, Cynthia Deckers

Architectural engineering: ABT BV Ingenieursbureau

Structural engineering: Aronsohn Raadgevende Ingenieurs

Installation design: Huisman en van Muijen

Building physics: DGMR Raadgevende Ingenieurs

General contractor: J.P. van Eesteren

Installations contractor: IC ULC-Kuijpers

Interior designer (general public areas): Neutelings Riedijk Architecten (offices) Hollandse Nieuwe

Designers of artworks: Iris van Herpen (betonreliëf) Studio Tord Boontje (grafiek)

Urbanist: Studio Hartzema

Cost calculation: IGG / Bointon de Groot

Landscape architect: H+N+S, Amersfoort

Copyrights

Photography: Scagliola Brakkee Fotografie

Model: Archimpact

Photography model: Neutelings Riedijk Architecten