Dutch firm Mecanoo has completed the interiors of the new Unilever Benelux Headquarters in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. 

Called Unilever Benelux Headquarters, the project is located in the heart of Rotterdam on Hofplein and has transformed the 1960s building designed by architect C.A. Abspoel with a striking concrete structure. 

The new interiors occupy six floors of the existing building to accommodate around 750 employees of Unilever. 

Townhall

Upon entering the sixth floor, visitors are welcomed in the Lipton Bar exhibiting a beautiful view of the city. From the Lipton Bar, all floors are accessible via internal stairs. 

Breakthroughs were made in the floors creating voids that connect the various departments and thus employees. Upon entering, the auditorium, the so called townhall, immediately stands out. This auditorium as well as the event space and restaurant are multifunctional and can be used for events, lectures and a place to have lunch. They can also be used for informal meetings or working, making these functions all part of the working environment. 

Mecanoo creates Unilever City 

Mecanoo designed interiors like a city with streets and shops, called as Unilever City. The team integrated multipurpose cabinets between the concrete structure form a street in the middle of the building. 

These serve as Unilever’s internal showcase. Products can be displayed in the cabinets and they can also be used for calls, discussions or to work in silence. 

Workplaces of the various Unilever departments are located on the street, each with their own identity, brands and character traits. They form the shops on the street. 

Brand hubs of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, Refreshment, Foods and Food Solutions departments emphasise the atmosphere of these departments, each having their own identity and forming a hotspot where products can be presented and tested. 

Activity based working

The mix of working, meeting, calling, consultation, presentation and other use and accommodation areas creates a dynamic environment to work in an activity-based manner. Unilever employees can find a place that suits their activity of the time. This stimulates collaborations, knowledge exchange, meetings and because you move more through the building, it also promotes health.

Industrial

The materials used strengthen the industrial character of the building. The black steel, oak, the cast floor and tiles form a neutral basis, giving the space to showcase Unilever’s products and marketing. 

Project facts

Programme: Interior design for the new Unilever Benelux headquarters on the 4th to 9th floors of an existing building, including entrance zone on the ground floor, varied types of workplaces, restaurant, lobby, theatre, auditorium, Lipton bar, brand hubs, kitchens for development of Unilever brands and displays for Unilever products, a total of 8,400 m2.

Design: 2019 

Realisation: 2019-2020 

Client: Unilever Nederland B.V.

Constructor: Strijbos Constructie Advies, Panningen

Building physics/ installation consultant/ fire safety: Royal HaskoningDHV, Rotterdam

Graphic design: Silo Creative Agency, Den Haag

Project management: Arcadis Design & Consultancy, Amsterdam

Main contractor: Verwol Interieurrealisatie, Delft

All images © Ossip Architectuurfotografie

> via Mecanoo 

Mecanoo Rotterdam Unilever