A new home for BDO Accountancy Groningen | Working at the heart of Maupertuus
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
Within the iconic Maupertuus building in Groningen, BDO Accountancy has established its new, future-oriented workplace as of 1 July. The characterful shell — defined by robust timber trusses and beams — serves not merely as a structural framework, but as the spatial and atmospheric point of departure for a sustainable, hybrid office concept.
For this location, M+R conceived a work environment based on the principle of the meandering landscape: a fluid spatial composition in which concentration, encounter and interaction unfold in natural succession. Rather than a rigid layout with clearly demarcated functions, the interior reveals a continuous sequence of work settings. Calm, openness and activity are carefully orchestrated, enabling employees to intuitively navigate between focus areas, collaborative zones and informal meeting spaces.
Material expression and formal language reinforce this spatial strategy. Natural materials, organic lines and a generous integration of greenery soften the scale of the building and enhance a sense of well-being. The timber load-bearing structure remains visible and is deployed as a spatial asset, anchoring the interior within the architectural identity of the building while providing the work landscape with a warm, recognisable foundation.
As with all BDO locations, M+R developed a distinct, site-specific signature grounded in BDO’s corporate identity and enriched by local character. In Groningen, circular materials were selected to reference the urban fabric. Reclaimed terracotta bricks — reimagined in terrazzo flooring and wall finishes — offer a subtle evocation of the city’s streetscape. The result is a layered identity in which brand and context are mutually reinforcing.
Sustainability is expressed not only through material choices but is embedded in the technical resolution. In close collaboration with the building services consultant, an innovative climate system was developed featuring climate islands carefully integrated within the existing architecture. The system anticipates fluctuating occupancy levels and patterns of use, creating a comfortable indoor environment that adapts to the rhythms of the working day.
The lighting design further deepens the spatial experience. Custom-designed LED luminaires provide balanced illumination, a refined colour temperature and visual comfort , both at individual workstations and in collective areas. Fully daylight-responsive and offering individual user control, the system allows lighting to be tuned to personal preference and activity. Light is thus employed not solely as a functional necessity, but as an instrument of well-being and productivity.
With its new premises in Maupertuus, BDO Accountancy Groningen now occupies a workplace in which sustainability, identity and user comfort are conceived as an integrated whole. The result is a contemporary working environment that facilitates encounter, fosters collaboration and supports concentration and professional growth — a setting that not only accommodates, but actively enables and inspires.
