Wonderwoods - Utrecht

In 2021-2023, two green towers will rise in the heart of Utrecht. Wonderwoods, located right next to the central station, will become the new green oasis in the city, where trees and other plantings take center stage. This project is the response of project developer G&S Vastgoed to current urban planning challenges and the changing climate. The 'Bosco Verticale' in Milan by Stefano Boeri served as a model for the concept. However, it is fundamentally different because Wonderwoods consists of two buildings, each with its own identity.

Tower I is a design by Roberto Meyer of the Dutch firm MVSA Architects. The tower will be approximately 70 meters high and features a lot of greenery on the inside, extending outward onto the rooftop park. It will have the atmosphere of conservatories and greenhouses, with winter gardens and naturally lit atriums behind glass.
Stefano Boeri designed Tower II. This will be approximately 100 meters high and, like the tower in Milan, will have a lot of trees, shrubs, and perennials on the exterior. It will include a total of 360 trees and 9,640 shrubs and flowering plants. This is comparable to about a hectare of forest.

Thieu

Pije

Thieu@vdberk.nl

+31 (0)413 480 485

+31 (0)6 5317 8265

Arcadis Landscape Architecture is responsible for the design of the rooftop park and involved Van den Berk Boomkwekerijen at an early stage of the project. Together, they chose a strong, highly diverse assortment of standard and multi-stemmed trees, inspired by the planting of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. This way, Wonderwoods connects to the nature surrounding the city and optimally supports biodiversity.

The assortment includes many flowering species such as Amelanchier, Sorbus, Crataegus, Prunus, and Cornus. The Cornelian cherry blooms very early in the year and heralds the spring. A valuable species for bees during their first flight. The other species bloom in the following months, ensuring there is always something for insects to gather and creating an interesting, varied display. The pine in the assortment is a direct link to the forests on the eastern side of Utrecht and a beautiful evergreen element. The hawthorn, rowan, and serviceberry provide berries in the fall that are very popular with birds. Various species of trees and shrubs will also display beautiful autumn colors before the leaves fall.
Wonderwoods will therefore change appearance throughout the year. They will become living buildings, attracting other life, which makes this project so special.

Image: Vero Digital