a.s.r. real estate buys not just offices but homes at Wonderwoods in Utrecht

On behalf of the ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund, a.s.r. real estate has purchased 254 homes, a gym and a restaurant in the green, multifunctional real estate project Wonderwoods, located on Jaarbeursboulevard in Utrecht. Wonderwoods Development B.V. is a collaboration between G&S Vastgoed and KondorWessels Projecten. Earlier this year, the ASR Dutch Mobility Office Fund acquired the offices, the Playlab, the facilities on the ground floor, and the underground parking garage.

Wonderwoods consists of two towers, respectively 90 and 70 metres in height, that offer space for living, working, relaxation and entertainment. The taller of the two towers, designed by Italian architect firm Stefano Boeri Architetti, includes a vertical forest which adds foliage to the balconies and incorporates plants into the façade. The tower by MVSA Architects has distinctive round corners and also an abundance of greenery. The ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund has acquired a total of 254 rental homes, located in both towers and completed with a wide variety of home furnishings.

According to Robbert van Dijk, Fund Director at ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund, ‘Wonderwoods will be a unique, green eye-catcher in a really central location in Utrecht. Future residents will have a remarkable living experience, as their homes will be both situated in the middle of the city and surrounded by natural greenery. This project also offers the Fund a great opportunity to effectuate its sustainability policy. This investment will make a sustainable contribution to the creation of a healthy living environment in the centre of Utrecht.’

Wonderwoods

Wonderwoods is located in the Beurskwartier, within walking distance of Utrecht Central Station and the city centre. The project as a whole comprises homes for sale and -rent, offices, a spacious central bicycle storage area, an underground parking garage, healthy bars and restaurants, ArtScience Museum Playlab, a gym and commercial facilities on the ground floor. Residents of Wonderwoods will experience a living and working environment in the middle both of the city and of a green space. The trees and plants on, in and around the towers remove CO2 from the atmosphere and produce oxygen in return. This natural purification process improves air quality, and the greenery helps increase biodiversity. Not to mention that the trees mute the urban noises and even have a positive effect on energy use by restricting the direct rays from the sun.

The ASR Dutch Core Residential Fund was commercially supported by Van Gool Elburg real-estate specialists and received legal advice from Houthoff. During the process, Wonderwoods Development B.V. consulted with BNP Paribas Real Estate and received legal support from NautaDutilh. Construction will start in Q2 of 2019, and the completed project is expected to be delivered in mid-2022.