Unilever Hive

Transparent design and strategic location

In December 2019, Hive, Unilever, opened the Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen. A new state-of-the-art research facility for healthy and sustainable food innovations. Paul de Ruiter Architects designed the facility and created "an inspiring, sustainable, and simultaneously practical building that facilitates innovative collaboration," according to Unilever. The transparent design and strategic central location of the building on the Wageningen campus ensure optimal interaction between Unilever and various external parties. This cross-pollination is also facilitated by the fact that a large part of the building is publicly accessible. The arrival of the Foods Innovation Centre thus further boosts Wageningen's ambition to become the global knowledge center for (Agro)Food and Life Sciences. Unilever: "Paul de Ruiter Architects created an inspiring, sustainable, and simultaneously practical building that facilitates innovative collaboration."

Health and well-being as the foundation of the layout

Whereas most corporate buildings present a security barrier immediately upon entering, Unilever wanted the opposite: a building that is "open by default." Upon entering the six-meter-high public hall, openness, transparency, and a food experience take center stage. Here, a traditional reception area has been replaced by a spacious bar. Every visitor, student, or interested party is welcome for a cup of tea or a healthy lunch with a direct view of the Pilot Plant, Unilever's mini-factory. Opposite the bar is a large demonstration kitchen, where culinary sessions and tastings take place throughout the day, visible to everyone. A little further along is an open auditorium, which Unilever uses as a Town Hall area where food innovators share knowledge through lectures and symposia. The auditorium connects the ground floor with the Food Market, accessible to all visitors, the public meeting rooms, and the restaurant on the first floor. Adjacent to the Food Market is a shop-in-shop zone where Unilever partners have the opportunity to set up an office and become an active part of the Foods ecosystem. In this hall, Unilever fosters internal cross-pollination with its AgriFood partners and fosters interaction with Campus Park.

The ground floor also houses the Foods Experience Kitchens. These four innovative kitchens, along with the large demonstration kitchen, serve as a creative showcase for Unilever's chefs. They use the kitchens daily as test kitchens, for culinary sessions with external clients, cooking training sessions, and special lunches and dinners for guests. A bright atrium with a sunroof and wide wooden staircase connects the ground floor with Unilever's offices and laboratories. A sunken parking garage is located beneath the entire building, accessible to both Unilever and Wageningen University employees. The transparency that characterizes the architecture continues in the interior, where as many functions as possible are visually connected. Through various innovative technologies and a sophisticated layout that encourages movement and interaction, the Foods Innovation Centre also contributes to the health and well-being of its users.

Pioneering Together

The starting point for Hive was to design a building that seamlessly aligns with its previously established objectives. Therefore, Unilever opted for an integrated approach, tendering the design and construction simultaneously. Pioneers in sustainable and circular construction collaborated to create the most innovative design, incorporating all of Unilever's ambitions and the building's crucial sustainability aspects: Dura Vermeer was responsible for the development and construction of the building, Paul de Ruiter Architects for the design, and DWA for the technical installations and BREAAM certification. Fokkema & Partners Architects designed the interior.

Intensive co-creation

The Unilever Foods Innovation Centre was developed, shaped, and integrated step by step in close collaboration with all parties, resulting in an exceptionally sustainable and user-friendly design. From day one, the design team focused on close contact with Unilever and strived to make the project equally special for everyone. Even during the design phase, the team used simulation tools linked to a BIM (Building Information Model) to simulate the building's behavior and installations in detail and allow for coordination. The result: teams became more creative, solutions more innovative, and good plans even better!