Hive, Unilever Foods Innovation Centre

Hive, the Unilever Foods Innovation Centre in Wageningen, a new state-of-the-art research facility for innovations in healthy and sustainable food, is officially open for business as of December 2019.

The facility was designed by Paul de Ruiter Architects, who, according to Unilever, have created “an inspiring, sustainable and yet practical building that facilitates innovative collaboration.”

This energy-neutral facility was certified “Outstanding” by the Dutch BREEAM environmental performance assessment body, making it one of the most sustainable multifunctional buildings in the world. Its design is based on Unilever’s desire to facilitate knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas, and the facility functions as an interaction and collaboration hub for the company’s nutritionists, researchers and students from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), and local start-ups and knowledge institutes involved in food-related innovation.

Expertise: Interior architect Features or Specials: Sustainability, Circular design, Circular Economy, Energy neutral Awards: Breeam outstanding