The Gildenkwartier, an iconic building in Utrecht’s station area, is being transformed into De Nieuwe Tuin: a sustainable and future-oriented work environment. The complex, designed in the 1970s by Goof Spruit, breathes structuralism and is characterized by interconnected octagonal volumes. Within this distinctive shell, Studio Groen+Schild and BiermanHenket are developing an interior design that will provide PGGM with an innovative and nature-inspired workplace.

PGGM, one of the largest pension administration organizations in the Netherlands, will occupy approximately 24,000 m². Their ambitions—attractive employer branding, sustainable leadership, and the ability to attract (young) talent—form the driving force behind the transformation. The heart of the building will become a spacious indoor garden, complemented by rooftop gardens overlooking the city: a green oasis in the urban center.

The characteristic honeycomb structure of the original architecture offers a natural foundation for connecting spaces and floors. We reinforce this structure in the interior with a layered approach in which color, materials, and greenery complement and enrich one another.

The design vision, “The New Urban Biotope,” translates ecological structures—developed in cohesion with the landscape design by Copijn—into a palette of colors and materials. Each octagon thus acquires its own character, inspired by key species from Utrecht’s urban nature. This enhances recognizability, supports orientation, and strengthens the relationship with the indoor garden.

Flexibility and circularity are guiding principles. The fit-out elements are demountable, and we make maximum use of harvested materials from both the existing building and PGGM’s current location in Zeist. The result is an interior that is not only sustainable, but also adaptive and timeless.

De Nieuwe Tuin will be more than an office: an inspiring place to work and meet, firmly rooted in the city and ready for the future. PGGM is expected to move into the building at the end of 2027.

Renders Exterior: BiermanHenket Interior: Studio Groen+Schild

PGGM Design Team: BiermanHenket, Studio Groen+Schild, ABT bv, Copijn Landscape Architects, DGMR, Huisman & Van Muijen, BBA Consultants, Frans van Hooijdonk Lighting Design

Projectteam Studio Groen+Schild:
Ellen Schild, Loran Kampen, Rosanne Bommartini, Elkie Goos, Dyneke Kuiken