Exquisite precast concrete elements for the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in the Dutch city of Leiden

Figure: Robert Mehl

Northwest view of the Naturalis Diversity Center. Its façade plays intentionally with the theme of “mountain”

Figure: Robert Mehl

The undulating characteristic of the façade can be seen in the oblique view, the second formal source of inspiration for the design of the façade

Figure: Robert Mehl

Figure: Neutelings Riedijk Architects

The rhombic enclosure of an elliptical window field is in each case a precast concrete element

Figure: Neutelings Riedijk Architects

Figure: Robert Mehl

In the Rotterdam office, Project Manager Frank Beelen explains the principle of the façade

Figure: Robert Mehl

Figure: Neutelings Riedijk Architects

Already in the plant, the glass panels were embedded in the precast concrete elements before they were installed in the steel supporting structure

Figure: Neutelings Riedijk Architects

Figure: Robert Mehl

Detail of the precast concrete frieze by Iris van Herpen

Figure: Robert Mehl

View into the atrium entrance – the mountain character can be clearly recognized. Some precast concrete friezes designed by Iris van Herpen can also be seen in the picture

Figure: Robert Mehl

Figure: Neutelings Riedijk Architects

The recently opened Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden is the largest museum of natural history in the Netherlands. The distinctive façade of the building is dominated by a cubic body of three-dimensional interlaced precast concrete elements. The complete article (in German only) can be read in the “BetonBauteile Jahrbuch 2022,” which is available in the Profil-Buchhandlung.

For their design of this museum newbuild, the Rotterdam architects Neutelings Riedijk had looked for an architectural likeness in nature. At the same time, the Naturalis Biodiversity Center was to be recognizable as a public building in the Bio Science Park in Leiden. This science quarter of Leiden University is characterized by introverted research institutes and office buildings. Although in walking distance from the main railroad station, it is located on the side facing away from the inner city. It is no place for strolling through, but rather one to which one goes for a specific purpose....