WONDERWOODS an elegant, bold and green real estate project

Living at the top of the world in the middle of the city and at one with nature: that’s Wonderwoods in the heart of Utrecht. Rising just outside Centraal Station, the two new towers are slated for delivery in 2024 and will be the epitome of a mixed-use project. Besides sweeping views across the city, the two greenest towers of the Netherlands will accommodate the full spectrum of working, living, experience, meeting people, leisure, drinking and dining.

G&S Vastgoed and BMB Ontwikkeling recently merged and will continue as G&S&. Every facet of the project is green and conceived to restore the relationship between city dwellers and the natural environment. “We envisage a community in which people, nature and technology coexist in harmony”, explains Jet Happel.

As head of Creative Development at G&S&, she is proud of what they are accomplishing with Wonderwoods, where

Jet and her team hope to help urbanites rekindle their connection with nature.

“It will be a green oasis in the city”, she continues enthusiastically. “Vegetation to clad the buildings has been selected with the architects’ horticultural specialists and is already under cultivation at the tree nursery.” This unique approach to literally planting two towers, which will stand 75 and 105 meters tall, calls for special maintenance techniques as well. “Several times a year, an expert team of ‘flying gardeners’ will come abseiling off the roof. Residents won’t need to have green thumbs, because that’s all taken care of!”

Plum penthouses

A few penthouses with spectaculair views are currently available for sale via Eefje Voogd Makelaardij, whose director is equally excited about the project: “It’s a splendid project that I’m delighted to be a part of”, Eefje says. The Italian Stefano Boeri, the world’s most celebrated ‘green architect’, designed one of the two towers, containing six penthouses.

Roberto Meyer of MSVA Architects worked his magic on the other, with five luxury penthouses on the 20th and 21st floors offering unparalleled high-end living.

“The penthouses in this new, living icon of urban architecture are unique in their class and have spaces ranging from 110 to just over 290 square metres. What makes this project extra special for me is how the exterior and interior are dynamically interconnected.” Nature is everywhere in Wonderwoods, Eefje adds. “Even though it’s in the centre of town – with lovely views of the Dom tower and historic centre – residents are steeped in nature. With plenty of fresh air and a sea of daylight. Which is precisely what the architects intended, with ceilings nearly three metres high and big windows to let natural light flood in.”

Successful collaboration

Having previously worked together on 900 Mahler in Zuidas, G&S& and Eefje Voogd were eager to repeat their successful collaboration, Jet and Eefje say. “Especially on a project like this one, with state-of-the-art towers built to be embraced by nature”, affirms Jet. “We urge everyone to live in the city centre yet surrounded by nature.”

More information: www.wonderwoodspenthouseandspecials.nl