Heritage Leiden and Surroundings is the hub for people passionate about the past. The organization manages the historical archives and archaeological depot of Leiden and provides advice on dealing with cultural heritage values in the spatial environment.

The organization is housed in a cluster of buildings, including a national and a municipal monument. In terms of sustainability, functionality, and appearance, the buildings no longer meet modern standards. Studio Groen+Schild and VDNDP won the selection for the revitalization of the properties.

Sustainable preservation of monuments is one of the themes that Heritage Leiden and Surroundings works on. The organization's own buildings are an important place to demonstrate how this can be done properly without compromising the buildings' monumental value. The facades and roofs are insulated, and secondary glazing is added to the windows. Careful attention to detail ensures a balanced appearance.

Upon entering, the current situation does not reflect the organization's mission. The heritage is not visible. Therefore, the most significant architectural intervention is in the entrance area. The space is opened up to create long sightlines and a museum-like route. A long wall of cabinets, known as "the ribbon," becomes the exhibition space in the building. Heritage items can be displayed here in rotating exhibitions. At the end of the ribbon is the treasure chamber. Part of the monumental depot tower becomes publicly accessible, showcasing the treasures of Heritage Leiden and Surroundings.

Renders: Studio Groen+Schild

Design Team: Studio Groen+Schild, VDNDP, Linssen

Projectteam Studio Groen+Schild:
Ellen Schild, Thijs Bongers, Elkie Goos