Driebergen-Rijsenburg, The Netherlands
Thomas Rau of RAU Architects and Odette Ex of Ex Interiors, together with Arcadis J.P. van Eesteren and BBN, landscape architects, have delivered a fully sustainable and circular office building for Triodos Bank and the developer Edge.
The project has been awarded a 2021 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.
Dubbed the “wooden cathedral” the office is the first large-scale, 100% wooden reconstructible office building.
The new office is located on De Reehorst Estate in Zeist.
De Reehorst is part of a series of rural areas in Zeist and Driebergen and is an important link within the National Ecological Network (EHS).
In 2011, Triodos Bank decided to build a new office in De Reehorst.
Following an earlier high-profile (head) offices in 1999 and 2006, RAU Architecten also designed this new office in collaboration with Ex Interiors.
By giving the design maximum circular potential, a dynamic balance is created between nature, culture, and economy.
The arrival of Triodos Bank has led to new momentum to bring the estate into the 21st century.
The entire building, both the lower parts and the towers, consisting of unique wooden construction.
Wooden floors, wooden shafts, and wooden columns together form a spectacular construction like that of a “cathedral.”
RAU Architects sees a circular building as a temporary combination of products, components, and materials with a documented identity.
The origin and planned re-use of all products, components, and materials are carefully documented in order to be able to easily offer them new usage in the future.
It is important to anticipate possible changes as much as possible when designing buildings due to changes in user requirements, differences in the useful life of building components or external influences such as changing regulations or climate change.
The building is literally screwed together with 165,312 screws.
This means that whenever dismantling the building, the circular potential can be activated 100% without loss of value of materials, components, and products.
The composition and form of the five-story building (12,994 m2) are inspired by nature, the rhythm of the landscaped rooms in the surrounding estate and the flight paths of bats.
The three transparent, uniform towers run from south to north and are alternately connected on the ground, first and second floors.
This physical body provides a beautiful view for all employees daily.
Because of its shape, three new “landscape rooms” are created between the edge of the forest and the building and create a diversity of new landscape qualities around it.
The interior designed by Ex Interiors further reflects the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Project: RAU Architects Triodos Bank
Architects: RAU Architects
Design Team: Thomas Rau, Peter Klaassen, Erik Mulder, Robin Hurts, Dennis Grootenboer, Vincent Valentijn, Michael Noordam, and Jochem Alferink
Interior Architects: Ex Interiors
General Contractor: Aronsohn Construction
Consultants: Deerns
Landscape Architects: Arcadis J.P. van Eesteren and BBN
Developer: EDGE
Client: Triodos Bank Nederland
Photographers: Bert Rietberg, Ossip van Duivenbode, and Alexander van Berge
