Naturalis brings biodiversity to the Zuidas with exhibition in The CubeHouse

Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the national research institute for biodiversity and one of Europe’s leading natural history museums, will open a permanent exhibition on the ground floor of The CubeHouse, the office building on the Zuidas developed by G&S&, from 2 July 2026. This ground floor space will house The Cube: a multifunctional and publicly accessible venue that complements the office floors above, bringing together and reinforcing work, culture, and social programming.

Bringing scientific knowledge closer to businesses and organisations
The office building, delivered in December 2025 to a.s.r. real assets on behalf of the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund, creates a new meeting place on the Zuidas for international companies and organisations. In collaboration with Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The CubeHouse brings the story of biodiversity into the office environment and connects visitors, tenants, passers-by, and wider social initiatives.

Marcel Beukeboom, Managing Director of Naturalis: “The urgent challenges surrounding biodiversity require us to join forces and collaborate even more closely. Together with governments, businesses, and other organisations, we are developing solutions based on scientific knowledge. The invitation from our partner BNP Paribas to realise an exhibition, lectures, and roundtable discussions at The CubeHouse presents a unique opportunity for Naturalis to share our story on the Zuidas. In doing so, we reach new audiences and bring our expertise on biodiversity closer to the business community. In a district where this topic may seem less self-evident, we want to demonstrate just how vital the rich diversity and interconnectedness of nature are to our future.”

The Cube: a new vision for the ground floor of an office building

At The CubeHouse, The Cube serves as an open and dynamic meeting place where publicly accessible functions come together on the ground floor. Conceived by G&S&, The Cube reimagines the ground floor of office buildings by combining work, culture, and public programming. Tenants BNP Paribas and Arcadis are involved in the initiative. BNP Paribas is a partner of Naturalis and played a role in establishing this collaboration.

For the further development and programming of The Cube, G&S& has partnered with Use/space. Together, they bring the space to life through social and cultural programming, including exhibitions, workshops, and courses. With Naturalis Biodiversity Center as part of the programme, The Cube gains an additional dimension through scientific and cultural programming that inspires and engages visitors and tenants alike. The collaboration also aligns with the sustainability ambitions of The CubeHouse.

Samuel Orobio de Castro, developer at G&S&: "With The Cube, we demonstrate that an office building can be more than just a workplace. It is a place where work, culture and science come together, and where colleagues get to know each other in a more informal way. At the same time, The Cube offers companies the opportunity to showcase themselves and create a working environment where people truly want to be. The partnership with Naturalis completes this vision."

The fluid office: multifunctional use of space

The concept of The CubeHouse aligns with the idea of the “fluid office,” where work environments are used multifunctionally and adapt to different users and times of day. The combination of work, culture and social programming creates a dynamic and inclusive environment.

The interior of The Cube was designed by Amsterdam-based studio D/DOCK in collaboration with studio Ilona Laurijsse, while the building itself was designed by New York-based studio SO–IL. The design integrates architecture, interior design and exhibition into one cohesive whole, enabling multifunctional use within a high-quality working environment.