House modernes

Utrecht icon ready for the future.

The metamorphosis of House Modernes is complete. Owner Dutch Retail Property Fund invested 70 million euros in this prominent Utrecht complex that has been redeveloped by Syntrus Achmea. Upon completion, all 12,500 m3 have been rented to a varied mix of users. Ultimate flexibility makes House Modernes ready for future changes. Installations play a key role in this.

Opened in 1941, Galeries Modernes was a trendsetter, luxury department store. In 1981 it closed its doors and the name changed to Blue Building, later to the Planet. During the redevelopment, Syntrus Achmea did not opt ​​for a complete retail destination. That might have been easier to achieve, but as far as they were concerned it was certainly not future-proof. After extensive research into the needs of the target group, a place was created with a mix of functions; shops, flexible offices, catering and a bicycle shed.

Personal preferences via an app

For the shell of House Modernes we were responsible for all electrical facilities, evacuation and intercom system plus lighting. Digitally controlled fixtures provide additional functionality. When walls are moved, no physical adjustments are necessary; programming is sufficient. Lighting points can also be identified individually with a QR code. Users set their personal preferences via an app. This creates a personal working environment that benefits productivity.

“Such functionality is crucial for House Modernes,” says Walther van Leeuwe, head of (re)development & transformation at Syntrus Achmea, “The complex is designed in such a way that functions can easily evolve with changing needs in the future. Flexibility is the key. key word. Installations such as lighting play a crucial role in this.” Many tenants of House Modernes also contacted us. Think of the office floors of Spaces, the KAUAI food store and Aldi.