De Nieuwe Post

On Stationsplein in Arnhem, the former post office building is being transformed into the sustainable government office De Nieuwe Post, which intertwines heritage with the future, strengthens the city and offers a healthy, green workplace for hundreds of employees.

A third life for a government office

The municipal monument is being carefully renovated and expanded so that it can once again occupy a meaningful place in the city. De Nieuwe Post will be home to more than 400 government employees, but above all, it will be a building that connects heritage with the future.

Connected to the city and its surroundings

The building's location – at the transition from the moraine to the floodplains – calls for a design that reconnects the city. New entrances on both Stationsplein and Renssenstraat make the building accessible from multiple directions. The paved rear is transformed into a green meeting place, with a courtyard garden and public roof garden that enrich the station area and reinforce the transition to the city centre.

Architecture in dialogue

The monument's power is enhanced by the restoration of façades and proportions, with respect for the original vertical articulation. At the same time, a new layer appears: a light wooden superstructure on a transparent mezzanine floor. This contemporary addition follows the rhythm of the old building, but speaks its own language of form. The result is a harmonious ensemble in which old and new reinforce each other and the building regains its significance in the cityscape.

An interior as a continuous route

Inside, a spatial route forms the backbone of the design. Via voids, wide staircases and spacious meeting squares, visitors move from Stationsplein to Renssenstraat. These squares, bathed in daylight and surrounded by greenery, invite interaction and encounters. Around the squares, the “square wall” allows for flexible organisation of work and meeting spaces, so that the building can adapt to changing ways of working. This creates a dynamic and future-proof working environment.

Living in harmony with nature

De Nieuwe Post was designed as a living ecosystem. Green roofs, a circular courtyard garden and spacious indoor gardens bring air, water and biodiversity into the heart of the building and the city. Even a monumental tree was preserved because the new volume literally made room for it. Inside and outside merge into one another; nature becomes part of everyday working and meeting. The result is a healthy working environment that energises people and makes the city more climate-proof.

A circular icon for the city

The design proves that sustainable construction is not only necessary, but can also be inspiring. More than 50% of the materials used were harvested from the existing building or other projects, while 90% can be reused in the future. With its wooden support structure, demountable facades and an interior that can be reconfigured time and again, the building will become a veritable resource bank for the next generation. This design creates a timeless, resilient and future-oriented building that not only serves its users but also enriches the city of Arnhem.

Working together to create added value

The success of this project lies in collaboration. Led by Heijmans, a multidisciplinary design team – including Kraaijvanger, Karres en Brands, DGMR, DWA and IMd – is working according to the DOEN philosophy of the Central Government Real Estate Agency. This means open communication, seizing opportunities and creating added value together. In this way, we are creating a building that is not only a government office, but also an inspiring beacon for sustainability, collaboration and urban renewal.