Dutch studios Rijnboutt (casco) and Zecc Architecten (interior library) have refurbished a former main post office into a vibrant, mixed-use public space in the city of Utrecht.

Post offices were once key urban buildings, places that connected you to the rest of the world. In 2011, the iconic national monument by Jan Crouwel in Utrecht was the last main post office to close its doors in the Netherlands. However, the impressive building has lost none of its relevance for the city. The integration of the ambitious mixed-use programme into a modern library with an auditorium, meeting and study areas, shops, restaurants, and a bicycle shed has restored the national monument’s active role in the urban fabric and made it a vibrant centre again.

This project has been longlisted in the rebirth project category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Architect: Rijnboutt and Zecc Architecten
Project: Post Utrecht