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Sustainable News

Smart insoles prevent workplace accidents

By Zarkon Group,27/02/2023

Spotted: Slips, trips, and falls (STFs) are the top causes of major injuries in the workplace, according to the International Labour Organization. A new first-of-its-kind smart insole created by a team from the National University of Singapore can detect a person’s balance, which will allow companies to identify where an incident happened and highlight risk areas.

The insole has sensors that track foot pressure and changes in motion to determine when an STF has happened. It records and measures this input in real-time to assess different users’ balance. The insoles can also be custom fit to workers’ feet, using foot scanning and 3D printing.

Employers can access the information gathered by the smart insole through an app, rather than waiting for employees to file reports manually – which will allow them to act faster when needed.

The researchers were awarded funding from the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore to develop the prototype, and are collaborating with the Workplace Safety and Health Institute and Association of Singapore Maritime Industries to tweak the smart insole for the maritime sector. The team also wants to incorporate the insole into other industries in the future.

Other innovations are helping to mitigate the impact of accidents. Springwise has spotted shoes that notify the emergency services in the event of a fall, and a wearable musculoskeletal monitor that alerts a user to any dangerous movements.

Written By: Jessica Bradley

Reference

Architecture

Travelling exhibition highlights unsung Black architects

By Zarkon Group,27/02/2023

The racial paradigm in the United States means that Black architects must continue to operate against the grain in order to get projects built, says From the Ground Up exhibition curator Hasaan Kirkland.

Kirkland believes that barriers to entry and recognition continue to disadvantage people of colour in architecture, making it important to highlight the background of architects.

“Extra work is being done to be a Black anything,” said Kirkland, curatorial consultant for the Seattle edition of a travelling exhibition called From the Ground Up: Black Architects and Designers.

“Why can we not just be architects?”

“Why can we not just be architects, why do we have to be Black architects?” he asked.

“Well, it’s because of the paradigm in this country that deals with separation and racism that is originated by a select individual cultural mentality. We will still have to contend with tropes that do no good.”

“There are many unsung heroes, if you will, in the industry of architecture, primarily because they’re African Americans and have to contend with the world and all of the concerns that would prevent African Americans from being able to have a central voice and an opportunity to be recognized.”

Kirkland believes that additional work must be done to shed light on Black architects and their contribution to city skylines as an important part of urban identity, both historically and in the present.

Impressive buildings can often be attributed to white architectural companies by default, which has led to Black architects and studios led by Black architects having less “scope to be recognized”, he argued.

A “feat of courage” for Black architects

“With the history of the country, to be an architectural firm became a feat of courage and of undoing some things that were racially motivated to prevent that from happening,” said Kirkland.

He contends that this context means it is important to have educational programming that informs people about the contributions of Black architects to the built environment.

“Architecture is what creates our skylines for every city, and every state, but it is often unknown how many African Americans are actually contributors to those skylines, to the buildings that we see and drive around every day,” said Kirkland.

“We just assume that they are created by another white architectural company, but there are Black firms.”

Recognising this contribution is part of the work the exhibition is carrying out. Originally conceived via the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the traveling exhibition zeroes in on the architects of specific regions alongside the core programming.

People should “see themselves” in architecture

However, Kirkland pointed out that just because an architect is Black, it doesn’t mean the spaces are necessarily designed for the community – although Black architects often work in areas like social housing that are traditionally ignored in legacy architecture.

“Just because they’re a Black firm doesn’t mean they make the building specifically for Black people,” he said. “If a Black person was never to set foot in those buildings, that’s not the primary concern. The primary concern is to create the building.”

But when people are shown the origin of the building, he says, that provides an added benefit.

“When you begin to have that context into your understanding, then people of color become inspired and empowered by the industry of architecture because they can begin to see themselves not just on the wall but the wall itself,” Kirkland said.

Read on for a look at five buildings worked on by Black architects highlighted in the exhibition.

Tuskegee Chapel — Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

Butler Chapel Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, by Robert R Taylor

Robert R Taylor was the first Black American to receive a formal architecture degree, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon graduating, he was offered a position as the director of the Department of Mechanical Industries at the Tuskegee Institute by founder and activist Dr Booker T Washington.

The first building in the county to have interior lights, the chapel was one among many Gothic-style brick buildings designed by Taylor for the institute.

Completed in 1898, the chapel was eventually destroyed in a fire in 1957. The institute’s new chapel was designed almost 70 years later by Paul Rudolph and the studio of John A Welch and Louis Fry, both graduates of the institute.

Arts complex sarah lawrence — Photo courtesy of Ben Schnall

Arts Complex at Sarah Lawrence College, New York, by Edward Durell Stone and Beverly L Greene

In 1952, Beverly L Greene worked with Edward Durell Stone to complete the brick-and-stone modernist art complex at Sarah Lawrence College.

Greene was the first Black woman to receive a degree in architectural engineering in the United States. Born in Chicago, she went on to work on numerous important modernist projects, including the UNESCO Heritage Headquarters by Marcel Breuer in Paris.

Greene also worked on a number of housing developments in New York City and Chicago, including Stuy Town on Manhattan’s east side. After also earning a masters degree in architecture at Columbia, Greene went on to design a number of buildings for NYU.

Theme building LAX — Photo by Eric Salard

Theme Building at LAX, Los Angeles, by Paul Revere Williams

Completed in 1961, the Theme Building at LAX was hailed as a prime example of late modern architecture. It was designed by Paul Revere Williams, a locally-born architect known for his work on homes for celebrities such as Frank Sinatra.

The Theme Building is a domed restaurant suspended by concrete arches. It was part of a major expansion of the airport during that time period and recently underwent structural stabilisation to maintain it.

US embassy Tokyo — Photo courtesy of Rs1421

US Embassy in Tokyo, Tokyo, by Cesar Pelli and Norma Merrick Sklarek

Completed in 1976, the US Embassy Building in Tokyo displayed the modernist sensibilities of American architecture in an international context. Norma Merrick Sklarek also worked with Argentine architect Cesar Pelli on other projects, including the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles.

Born in Harlem, Sklarek was the first Black woman to be listed as a fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Moving her license from New York to California, Sklarek was also the first Black woman to lead a division of a white-owned architecture studio.

MLK branch library Columbus — Photo by Feinknopf Photography

Martin Luther King Branch, Columbus, by Moody Nolan

A branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library in Ohio, the Martin Luther King Branch is an example of architecture explicitly dedicated to the African American community.

The first library branch to be named after King, it was completed in 2018 by Moody Nolan, a local, Black-owned studio run by Curtis Moody and Howard E Nolan. The project won the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) Phil Freelon Professional Design Award in 2020.

Founded in 1982, Moody Nolan is now the largest Black-owned architecture studio in the country and has worked on a number of large-scale projects.

From the Ground Up is on show at MOHAI in Seattle from February 4 to April 30. Visit Dezeen’s Event Guide for more events, exhibits and talks about architecture and design.

Reference

Entry with stainless steel and Formica counter

Interior Design

Jialun Xiong balances contrasts at “retro-futurist” 19 Town restaurant in LA

By Zarkon Group,26/02/2023

LA-based furniture designer Jialun Xiong has completed her first restaurant interior in the city for 19 Town, achieving a retro-futurist look by pairing soft hues and metallic surfaces.

Serving Chinese fusion food, the 19 Town restaurant is located in an industrial area close to Downtown LA.

The name is a play on words from a phrase in Mandarin, signifying a venue that has food and wine according to Xiong, who is originally from Chongqing.

She used a variety of materials and her own furniture designs to give the space a sense of “lavish restraint”, through the combination of minimal forms and rich details.

Lounge area with metal seating — Designer Jialun Xiong aimed to create “high-drama interiors” through the use of contrasting materials

“Crafted with rigorously minimal forms balanced by rich materials like Venetian plaster, silver, and leather, the restaurant’s high-drama interiors create an elevated dining experience where connection around food takes centre stage,” said a statement on behalf of Xiong.

The 4,200-square-foot (390-square-metre) restaurant is divided into five areas, which include the main dining space, a bar and lounge, and three private rooms.

Lounge area behind glass block wall — Glass block partitions define the spaces

Each space is designed with its own identity, including the entry, featuring a custom brushed stainless steel and Formica reception desk.

Behind, the wall is covered in Venetian plaster and plywood cabinets offer storage, while a series of circular Vibia pendant lights hang above.

Furniture detail — Xiong used multiple pieces from her Building Blocks collection to furnish the restaurant

Glass block partitions define the perimeter of the main dining area, comprising a central seating area with round tables, and custom banquettes made from brushed stainless, green leather and vinyl.

“Overlooking an open kitchen, the main dining space evokes an aura of retro-futurism,” said the team.

Stainless steel banquette — The main dining room features custom stainless steel banquettes

The lounge is located on one side and the screened bar is situated on the other – both continuing the same design language as the central room, but with their own twist.

Xiong used multiple pieces from her Building Blocks collection to furnish these spaces, such as a silver powder-coated metal bench with off-white leather upholstered seats.

Other items also combine industrial and natural materials, creating a balance between soft and hard, shiny and matte, and heavy and light.

A variety of lighting designs with disc-shaped elements are installed throughout, adding to the retro-futurist appearance.

Private dining room at 19 Town — The restaurant has three private dining rooms, all with a restrained aesthetic

The private dining spaces are decorated using a monochromatic palette and a restrained approach, with green providing a subtle injection of muted colour.

The overall result is a series of “balanced spaces where furnishings, lighting, and spatial volumes are considered together as a total composition”.

Bar located in screen porch — The bar also features custom furnishings

Minimalism has become an increasingly popular style choice for Chinese restaurants, both in China and around the globe.

Others include a hotpot restaurant with thick stucco walls in Qinhuangdao, a muted monochrome space in Ontario, and an eatery featuring stainless steel, brass and polycarbonate in Manhattan.

The photography is by Ye Rin Mok.

Reference

Sustainable News

Hi-tech fluid makes pumped hydro more affordable

By Zarkon Group,26/02/2023

Spotted: Clean energy sources, like solar and wind, are much better for the environment than fossil fuels, but they are less reliable. Increasingly, companies are exploring pumped hydropower as a means of storing renewable energy. But today’s conventional low-density hydro-power systems don’t use renewables to their full efficiency. Enter startup RheEnergise.

Video source RheEnergise

RheEnergise’s High-Density Hydro system pumps a special, hi-tech fluid uphill between storage tanks at times of low energy demand and cost. As energy prices rise, the fluid is released downhill through turbines, which generates electricity to supply the grid.

RheEnergise’s mineral-rich fluid is two and a half times denser than water, which is normally used in pumped hydropower. As a result, it contains two and a half times the energy and can be used on a hill that is two and a half times smaller. This means the RheEnergise system does not need high mountains to work, leading to more potential sites and substantial reductions in construction costs.

RheEnergise recently received a £1 million grant (about €1.1 million) from the UK Government’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. It will use this investment to explore whether minerals or waste materials that do not need to be imported can be used in its fluid.

The company plans to deploy a demonstrator close to Plymouth by the middle of next year. It is also pursuing other opportunities across the UK and Europe and expects to have its first five-megawatt grid-scale project in operation as early as 2026. RheEnergise has estimated that there are around 6,500 sites in the UK alone that could use the system.

Springwise has spotted other innovations utilising hydropower, including small turbines for use in any river, and a generator that works where fresh water meets the sea.

Written By: Jessica Bradley

Reference

Architecture

Revolutionizing Urban Living: MicroPolis Offers Affordable Housing Solutions in NYC’s Empty Spaces

By Zarkon Group,26/02/2023

MicroPolis – is a proposal for a new housing typology of micro-homes in metropolitan centers such as New York City. It can be installed in already built, empty urban spaces. The staggering of the units creates a push-and-pull relation, generating balconies for most units. Large public outdoor terraces provide social and co-working spaces and safe places for children to play. Installing these complexes in wealthier neighborhoods and business districts improves living standards for communities of color, immigrant groups, and low- to middle-income families.

Architizer chatted with Esther Sperber, Principal at Studio ST Architects to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Esther Sperber: MicroPolis is a response to a February 2020 court case that revoked the building permit for the top 20 floors of a Manhattan luxury condominium because it used gerrymandering-style tax lot assembly tactics to justify the request for a very tall building. We suggested that we should not waste these already built floors but rather use them for affordable housing. The aim is to present creative, inclusive and positive design solutions to the urban affordable housing crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of unoccupied and unusable space presents an opportunity to rethink affordable housing throughout the city.

This project won in the 10th Annual A+Awards! What do you believe are the standout components that made your project win?

The project is contextual and addresses New York City’s critical issues such as the housing crisis, diversity and inclusion, and lowering the carbon footprint in the construction industry. MicroPolis could help alleviate the affordable housing shortage, which we have a moral obligation to address. The design creates innovative, sustainable and affordable micro-homes within vacant floors of luxury buildings in metropolitan city centers. Cities have always embraced people from all kinds of diverse backgrounds, but the pandemic revealed that the city is more divided than we would like to acknowledge. MicroPolis celebrates NYC’s diversity by increasing equity and valuing the range of people needed to make the city thrive. Adding affordable housing units throughout the city’s higher-end neighborhoods aims to make NYC more integrated, resilient and equitable.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

We realize there will likely be resistance to this proposal. Few privileged communities welcome low- and middle- income developments in their neighborhoods, let alone their own apartment buildings. But if we have learned anything during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that our society is deeply intertwined. The communities that suffered most from the pandemic are those that we depend on most to keep our city running. The same resistance to this project is reason enough to take this typology seriously. It is time to stop averting our gaze from those who are less fortunate economically and invite them to be our neighbors.

How did the context of your project — environmental, social or cultural — influence your design?

NYC’s real estate exposes the city’s socio-economic inequities. Manhattan’s luxury residential market seems to be rebounding. However, at the same time, the Department of Housing & Preservation, which is responsible for maintaining affordable housing, experienced a 40% cut during the pandemic, resulting in the loss of 21,000 affordable housing units. Our unique modular system, which aims to create greater social equity, consists of prefabricated, energy-efficient and cost-effective micro-homes, which can be installed in already built empty urban spaces. The proposal demonstrates how to creatively house key workers and other tenants in need by maximizing space on mid-level floors of currently unoccupied luxury condos, which some developers have designated as mechanical voids in an attempt to increase the height of luxury buildings and gain maximum value for coveted upper floor apartments.

How important was sustainability as a design criteria as you worked on this project?

The issue of sustainability was one of the main driving factors of MicroPolis’ design. Reusing built spaces has environmental advantages: it conserves materials and resources, lowers carbon footprint, and brings old, energy-inefficient buildings up to the current code. Carefully selected building materials and cladding ensure thermal insulation to lower energy use and costs for these micro-homes. MicroPolis is also uniquely designed to enable staggered balconies to provide some sun exposure and shade coverage during extreme weather conditions.

What key lesson did you learn in the process of conceiving the project?

The housing crisis in New York City, or any city for that matter, is a complex issue. With some of the world’s wealthiest residents, New York City is also home to thousands who do not have a clean, warm or dry place to sleep. The city is struggling to address its housing shortage for lower-income individuals and families, and to provide shelter to its 60,000-plus homeless. At the same time, New York City has a record number of empty, unsold, new luxury apartments. Unused space, particularly in tall luxury residential towers, can be reconfigured to accommodate more units dedicated to affordable housing within the existing floor area.

How do you believe this project represents you or your firm as a whole?

My firm, Studio ST Architects, strives to focus on sustainable, innovative and responsible design. Our firm combines unique expertise in architecture and psychology to design inspiring buildings and renovate spaces that transform human experiences, build deep and inclusive community connections, and create a sense of health and well-being. MicroPolis directly addresses these pillars of our practice.

How has being the recipient of an A+Award evoked positive responses from others?

It gave us an opportunity to think and explore issues around the multi-family residential typology, particularly within dense urban centers. This also helped us reach a larger audience to raise an issue we are passionate about, which led to more discussions with our clients and collaborators about responsible, compassionate design that addresses not only people’s basic need for housing, but also human connection.

How do you imagine this project influencing your work in the future?

Studio ST Architects has significant experience in apartment interior renovations and religious buildings, but we are excited to do more work in the multi-family residential sector. Our recently completed Jones Street multi-family apartment building holds a similar spirit of ambition to connect people and address the need for housing within Jersey City. Jones Street creates individual homes and a sense of community for the families and young professionals that live in this growing Jersey City community. It targets the swathe of families and young professionals looking for New York-style buildings just across the Hudson River. We hope to continue tackling the housing crisis by taking on more multi-family housing projects.

For more on MicroPolis, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

MicroPolis Gallery

Reference

Interior Design

Black staircases link SC Workplace by Behnisch Architekten

By Zarkon Group,25/02/2023

A variety of black staircases dogleg and spiral between the levels of this office in Southern California, designed by global firm Behnisch Architekten.

Tasked with bringing personality to a four-storey “developer box”, Behnisch Architekten 110,000 square feet (10,220 square metres) for an undisclosed client.

“We had the opportunity to work with a great client to transform this ubiquitous building type into a dynamic work environment, which promotes connection and collaboration,” said the studio.

The building shell, measuring 120 by 240 feet (37 by 74 metres), features glass facades and an elevator core at its centre.

Atrium with glass facade and two staircases — Behnisch Architekten carved the atria from the floor plates to bring in light and create visual connections

The team began by carving up the continuous floor plates to open up the levels to one another – allowing in more light and creating visual connections between multiple spaces.

On opposite sides of the core, they created two “eccentrically-shaped atriums” by staggering the walls of meeting rooms on the different storeys.

Underside of staircases — The staircases are wrapped in solid black on three sides

“A pair of hairpin-shaped stairs are situated in each atrium and connect users between office levels two to four, promoting inter-level exchange, but also serving as a sculptural element within the space,” said the studio.

Voids were also created in opposing corners, each containing a spiral staircase treated with the same solid black balustrades and light wooden treads as the doglegged ones.

Spiral staircase in corner void — More voids were formed at the building’s corners, which are used as lounge areas

“The multitude of options between levels allows users to move freely from floor to floor,” Behnisch Architekten said. “These voids also add communication and transparency between previously disconnected floor plates.”

Lounge areas also occupy the corner voids, which offer social spaces for employees and are flooded with light from the dual-aspect glazing.

Lounge area in front of staircase — Spiral staircases provide alternatives vertical routes through the building

Private offices are situated around the building’s perimeter so that users are afforded light and views.

Closer to the elevator lobbies, conference and meeting rooms feature glass walls, allowing some to overlook the atria.

Internal lounge area with colourful sofas — Meeting and conference rooms are located in the centre of the building

For wayfinding and booking, every meeting room is named after a river, while lounges are represented by lakes.

Each floor corresponds with two continental regions, which are identified through custom-designed wood artworks and photography.

Amenities for staff at ground level include a bouldering wall that wraps the core and is connected to a gym and a game room.

A large dining hall features pale materials and a slatted wood ceiling also found in other areas of the building.

Stefan Behnisch established Behnisch Architekten in Stuttgart in 1989 with his late father Günter Behnisch. The firm now has additional offices in Los Angeles, Boston and Munich.

It has completed a variety of different building typologies over the years, from kindergartens, schools and laboratories, to offices for Adidas and an academic building at Harvard University.

Dining hall — Staff amenities include a large dining hall

Behnisch was interviewed about his firm’s projects as part of Dezeen’s Virtual Design Festival in 2020.

The photography is by Brad Feinknopf and Nephew.

Project credits:

Project team: Kristi Paulson (Partner in Charge), Daniel Poei (Director/Project Lead), Tony Gonzalez, Vera Tian, Laura Fox, Eric Hegre Apurva Ravi, Victoria Oakes
Consultants: John A. Martin & Associates (Structural), Loisos + Ubbelohde (Lighting/Daylighting), ARUP (Fire/Life Safety, Acoustical, Audio/Visual), ACCO Engineered Systems (Design-Build – Mechanical/Plumbing), Morrow Meadows (Design- Build – Electrical), Pinnacle (Design-Build – Audio/Visual), Ockert and Partners (Graphics), SPMDesign (Custom-fabricated Artwork)
General contractor: DPR Construction

Reference

Sustainable News

Technology for monitoring cooling systems – Springwise

By Zarkon Group,25/02/2023

Spotted: Cooling, including refrigeration and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, is essential for human health and food safety. It is also estimated to account for up to 10 per cent of global CO2 emissions. However, in industries such as food production and delivery, it is impossible to turn down the thermostat as products need to be kept at constant temperatures to avoid spoilage. But now there is a product that can help users save energy and reduce waste.

The Therma Cooling Intelligence Platform is a wireless system that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor and optimise refrigeration and HVAC systems. It offers 24/7 temperature and humidity tracking, alerts users to faulty equipment, reduces energy consumption, and moves electricity usage to off-peak hours. Energy data is sent directly to a user-friendly dashboard, allowing operators to track energy bill savings and energy consumption, while empowering them to adjust usage as required.

As Therma founder and CEO, Manik Suri, points out: “The massive growth of refrigeration and air conditioning globally will greatly accelerate climate change unless we revolutionise cooling technologies.”

Therma’s system has already been deployed with more than a thousand customers across restaurants, hospitality, education, and food manufacturing, and the company recently completed a $19 million (around €17.9 million) funding round led by Zero Infinity Partners.

Therma° is not the only company working to reduce energy consumption. Springwise has spotted other innovations in this space, including solar powered refrigerated trucks, and an off-grid solar refrigerator.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Architecture

30 Best Architecture Firms in the Netherlands

By Zarkon Group,25/02/2023

The Dutch have long been at the vanguard of architectural discourse. From functionalism and neoplasticism to structuralism and deconstructivism, to the “international” character of the contemporary global context, designers from the Netherlands have been realizing daringly dynamic constructions for over a century. The culture of experimentation that fuses bold aesthetic detail with even bolder engineering feats comes as no surprise in a country that has, for centuries, relied on engineering to make their land liveable by draining water and relying on polders.

Cities across the Netherlands are bursting with innovative design, and in this respect, Rotterdam particularly stands out as a hotbed for experimentation. From the moment visitors arrive through its sleek train station, the city acts as a museum for cutting-edge contemporary design: from Huis Sonneveld and Kubuswoningen to the Erasmusbrug and Markthal, and the recently completed Boijmans Depot. Many of the architectural firms on this list are rooted in this city. They are in good company with those who aren’t.

Contemporary architectural discourse could not be cited without referencing the plethora of Dutch thinkers. Think of Rem Koolhaas, Wiel Arets, Jacob Van Rijs: these innovative and intelligent spirits have founded some of the biggest global firms, proving time and again that Dutch centrality in global design discourse is shatterproof.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Netherlands based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Netherlands architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Netherlands:

30. Benthem Crouwel Architects

For almost four decades, Benthem Crouwel Architects has been creating innovative, flexible and efficient designs in a variety of scales: from universities, museums, bridges, railway stations, metro lines, offices, housing, malls and urban plans to bicycle racks, tiny houses and crossover projects with designers. In all designs, Benthem Crouwel seeks a balance between economic, social and ecological interests, with a particular focus on innovation and sustainability.

Some of Benthem Crouwel Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Bella Donna, Amstelveen, The Netherlands
Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Car Park RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cuyperspassage, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Stedelijk Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Benthem Crouwel Architects achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	10

29. Kraaijvanger Architects

Creating places to explore. Kraaijvanger strives to create healthy environments for people to work, learn, and enjoy themselves in. Such as public spaces, public buildings, and urban districts, where unique encounters occur, where memories are made, and where important decisions are taken. We take our inspiration from socially relevant themes. And we look ahead as building is a slow process in a rapidly changing world.

Some of Kraaijvanger Architects’s most prominent projects include:

City Hall Venlo, Venlo, Netherlands
Early Childhood Center, Wassenaar, Wassenaar, Netherlands
City Hall Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
Museum Voorlinden, Wassenaar, Netherlands
Brede School Snijdelwijk, Boskoop, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Kraaijvanger Architects achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	2
Featured Projects	4
Total Projects	14

28. cepezed

cepezed is a medium sized, award-winning spatial design specialist. Assignments address the challenges of town-planning, industry, interiors and particularly architecture. cepezed represents knowledge, skill and a stimulating no-nonsense mentality. Combining conceptual skills, contemporary solutions for contemporary problems and ingenious creativity, results are disarmingly sober and inimitably intelligible.

Aesthetics and functionality are logically linked. At cepezed, projects are designed as monuments of function for people, not monuments of thanks to an architect.
cepezed is skilled at managing the complexity behind simplicity. It uses an integral design method with multiple material use in which various aspects such as spatial design, construction and installation techniques are forged into an indivisible whole.

Some of cepezed’s most prominent projects include:

Temporary Courthouse Amsterdam , Amsterdam, Netherlands
International student house, Delft, Netherlands
State Office De Knoop, Utrecht, Netherlands
Graafschap college, Doetinchem, Netherlands
Town hall Woerden, Woerden, Netherlands

The following statistics helped cepezed achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	18

27. derksen|windt architecten

derksen|windt architecten is a young and distinctive ambitious architecture studio with its own signature, founded in 2008 by Jeroen Derksen and David Windt. ‘We started our office because we want our vision on architecture translated into projects. We make our designs thinking from the optimal future experience for the users. From the inside as well as from the outside.

This creates a beautiful, often original, sharply detailled design. For every assignment we look for a clear and ideal starting point, a question that needs to be answered for that specific assignment.

Some of derksen|windt architecten’s most prominent projects include:

Cafeteria van Ruyven, Maassluis, The Netherlands
Contemporary extension to a house as an indispensable connection between the inside and outside., De Zilk, Netherlands
EXTENSION AND REFURBISHMENT HOUSE IN AMSTERDAM, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Extension and internal overhaul ’30s house, Heemstede, Netherlands
Concrete split-level house, Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands

The following statistics helped derksen|windt architecten achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	11

26. Personal Architecture

Personal Architecture is a Rotterdam based architectural firm. P·A works for individual and corporate clients. The expertise is broad: in addition to new construction projects, P·A is involved in the redevelopment and renovation of residential and commercial buildings. The partners of the firm, Maarten and Sander, stand for personal contact with the client, an integrated approach to the project and a transparent but highly organized process.

P·A is strong in taking care of the client, from the initiation phase to construction and management. The love for good design and a passion for building result in projects with high utility value and good architectural quality.

Some of Personal Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

A bold intervention, The Hague, The Netherlands
A second chance, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Back to nature, Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands
Not a box in an empty field, Zevenhuizen, Netherlands
A garden connection, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Personal Architecture achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	10

25. Bloot Architecture

BLOOT is a concept driven architectural studio located in The Hague, The Netherlands. Founded in October 2010 by Tjeerd Bloothoofd. With much pleasure and great dedication we are constantly searching through design for the concept and shape that unites the function, context, actuality and the wishes of the client in an integral sustainable design that appeals to the development of self-awareness and the liberty of choice in life.

Some of Bloot Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

Garden Studio, Voorburg, Netherlands
Transformation Forest House, Hengelo, Netherlands
Pavilion The Hague Beach Stadium, 4, Strandweg, Scheveningen, Den Haag, Netherlands
Patio House, Velp, Netherlands
Fig Tree House, The Hague, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Bloot Architecture achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	8

24. Hilberink Bosch Architecten

The various projects of HILBERINKBOSCH architects — ranging from private and project-based housing, offices, renovations and large-scale urban studies — are characterized by a conceptual approach. The base of all concepts is formed by a precise analysis of the history, the urban lot, function, requirements and potentials.

Form, material and colour arises from this concept, representing the poetry of life. The different aspects of study slowly grow into an actual building. The building becomes part of the poetry, part of the memory, it becomes meaningful. We are passionately seeking for the smartest solution for complex cases.

Some of Hilberink Bosch Architecten’s most prominent projects include:

House at the Edge of a Forest, Heesch, Netherlands
Four Houses at Oud-Empel, Oud-Empel, Netherlands
Farm on Wamberg, Berlicum, Netherlands
Huize Vreeburg, Rosmalen, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, NB, The Netherlands
Dune Villa, Utrecht, The Netherlands

The following statistics helped Hilberink Bosch Architecten achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	6

23. studio PROTOTYPE

studio PROTOTYPE is an Amsterdam-based architecture, urbanism and research firm. Founded in 2008, the studio believes in breaking from existing trends in order to create structures that withstand the test of time.

Some of studio PROTOTYPE’s most prominent projects include:

Villa Schoorl, Schoorl, Netherlands
Tiny pavilion in Vught, Vught, NB, Netherlands
Ortho Wijchen, Wijchen, Netherlands
Water Villa, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
House W, Duiven, The Netherlands

The following statistics helped studio PROTOTYPE achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	5
Total Projects	10

22. design Erick van Egeraat

Design Erick van Egeraat works on projects ranging from entirely new buildings and masterplans to interventions within historic structures. Common denominator in this diverse portfolio is our expertise which lies in striking visionary balances between the intended identity, level of ambition and overall quality of the projects.

Known for formulating unique architectural solutions, Erick van Egeraat creates iconic identities which optimize property values while acknowledging the social, emotional and intellectual impacts on both their environment and users. We provide both public and private clients with architectural and masterplanning services; interior and product design.

Some of design Erick van Egeraat’s most prominent projects include:

Waste to Energy Plant, Roskilde, Denmark
Erick van Egeraat Office Tower Amsterdam, Claude Debussylaan, Amsterdam-Zuid, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Vershina Trade and Entertainment Center, Surgut, Russia
Chess Club, Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Drents Museum, Assen, Netherlands

The following statistics helped design Erick van Egeraat achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	1
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	32

21. Mei architects and planners

Mei architects and planners realises leading projects in the Netherlands and abroad. Our work is founded on respect for the environment: for the history of the location, the current context and future living environment. Based on our expertise in the field of adaptive re-use of architectural heritage, new build projects and urban development strategies, we work on designs that put the user first.

Our distinct designs tell their own story, which increases the involvement with the building and the connection between its users. With creativity, expertise and courage, we introduce innovative technical applications and user concepts that contribute to social and ecological sustainability.

Some of Mei architects and planners’s most prominent projects include:

SAWA, Rotterdam, Netherlands
residential tower De Verkenner, Kanaleneiland, Netherlands
Schiecentrale 4B, Lloydstraat, Delfshaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The Four Worlds
Cheese Warehouse, Gouda, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Mei architects and planners achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	6
Total Projects	18

20. Barcode Architects

Barcode Architects is an international office for architecture, urbanism and contemporary design. The office is led by Dirk Peters and Caro van de Venne, along with a creative team of 70 professionals including architects, urban designers, and technologists. We have building experience in both the Netherlands and abroad.

Our work ranges from urban masterplans to mixed-use public buildings, from high-end residential and office towers to exclusive villas. Our projects are driven by the ambition to realize buildings that revitalize and transform their surroundings, offer a moving experience, awaken an aesthetic awareness and that users can identify with.

Some of Barcode Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Bibliothèque Alexis de Tocqueville, Normandy, France
Villa X, NB, Netherlands
Hyde Park, Hoofddorp, Netherlands
Bijlmer Bajes, Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Robin Bajeskwartier, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Barcode Architects achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	16

19. NEXT architects

NEXT architects is an architecture practice that covers the full spectrum of the architectural field. Since its earliest projects, ‘Holland – Layer by Layer’ and ‘The Image of Metropolis’, NEXT has explored the boundaries of its own discipline, and searched for areas that overlap with other disciplines. This exploratory attitude has resulted in a highly diverse portfolio that ranges from design products to urban plans.

Some of NEXT architects’s most prominent projects include:

Lianjiang Butterfly Bay, Lianjiang, Fuzhou, China
Bloemendaal Town Hall, Bloemendaal, Netherlands
Fuzhou Shouxi Building, Fuzhou, China
Lucky Knot, Changsha, China
House M&M, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped NEXT architects achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	13

18. René van Zuuk Architects bv

copyright Luuk Kramer - © René van Zuuk Architects bv

René van Zuuk Architects is an Almere-based practice founded in 1992 by René van Zuuk. Despite the diversity in the designs of René van Zuuk Architects, there are a few constant themes that run throughout. Above all is the desire of both clients and architect alike to create ‘something special.

The office strives to create architecture that challenges conventions. Underlying all of the designs is the continued search for methods to create a building as interesting as possible with minimal cost.

Some of René van Zuuk Architects bv’s most prominent projects include:

Belvedere Tower, Hilversum, Netherlands
ACRAM
De Verbeelding, 25, De Verbeelding, Zeewolde, Netherlands
Project X, 8, De Fantasie, Almere Stad, Almere, Netherlands
Pavilion Roosendaal, Nieuwe Markt, Roosendaal, Netherlands

The following statistics helped René van Zuuk Architects bv achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	10

17. GROUP A

We are GROUP A, a Dutch studio for architecture, interior and urban design founded in 1996. Led by the founders Maarten van Bremen, Folkert van Hagen and Adam Visser. In the past twenty-five years we have realized a wide range of projects. From offices to housing and from mobility assignments to transformations.

In our work, the disciplines urban planning, architecture and interior design are inextricably linked. This way we create sustainable environments where people live, work and reside comfortably. As a full service agency, we are responsible for the entire process, from design to completion.

Some of GROUP A’s most prominent projects include:

Central Park , Utrecht, Netherlands
Workshop Steigereiland
Blok 1 Presikhaaf, Zoomstraat, Arnhem, Netherlands
Cultural Educational Centre ‘Het Lichtruim’, De Bilt, Netherlands
Office Building De Schelde, 65, Glacisstraat, Vlissingen, Netherlands

The following statistics helped GROUP A achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	21

16. Shift A+U

Shift is a Rotterdam-based design office that focuses on the fields of architecture, urbanism and spatial planning. The office combines a broad engagement in space production with precise and project-specific design interventions.

Some of Shift A+U’s most prominent projects include:

Faculty Club, 2, Warandelaan, West Tilburg, Tilburg, Netherlands
Museumplein Limburg, Kerkrade, Netherlands
Vertical Loft, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
CMY Pavilion, Groningen, Netherlands
Dentist with a view, Best, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Shift A+U achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	8

15. LIAG architects + engineers

Together with our clients, we create powerful properties with a positive attitude towards the environment and its users. LIAG has strong affinity with the realization of integrated sustainable housing solutions that also take into account the total life of a building.

Functionality, the use of the building including the building operation and the user take the centre stage. Happiness of the user is central.

Some of LIAG architects + engineers’s most prominent projects include:

Rapenburg 65, Rapenburg, Leiden, Netherlands
Niekée Facility Centre, 300, Oranjelaan, Roermond, Netherlands
ROC Rijn IJssel, 2, Middachtensingel, Arnhem, Netherlands
Fire Station and Ambulance Post, Petroleumhaven, Waldorpstraat, Laak, Den Haag, Netherlands
NBHW ALKMAAR

The following statistics helped LIAG architects + engineers achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	30

14. Atelier Kempe Thill

Since the nineties, contemporary architecture has increasingly been confronted by two contradicting developments, which can be seen on all levels and working fields. On one hand, architects are requested to design neutral and anonymous buildings that can easily be changed for other uses; these buildings have to be able to respond to changing economic situations and have to be adaptable to different programs.

On the other hand, architects are asked to create very specific buildings that are easy to identify; this kind of architecture has to appeal to the user through a unique use of form and space. Atelier Kempe Thill consciously takes this modern paradox as the point of departure for their work.

Some of Atelier Kempe Thill’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Atelier Kempe Thill achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	12

13. MoederscheimMoonen Architects

We are a team of strategic creatives who want to make the world a better place. For us, the big idea plays an important role in how we look at the world, our team and our collaborations.

We think carefully, make informed decisions and make the right connections. We create calm and overview in complex situations. We do what is needed at the right times while always staying focused on the bigger picture.

Some of MoederscheimMoonen Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped MoederscheimMoonen Architects achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	19

12. De Zwarte Hond

De Zwarte Hond was established in 1985 in Groningen and has offices in Rotterdam and Cologne. It has a staff of more than fifty people with differing backgrounds, competencies and skills. The integral design and realization of architecture and urban assignments is carried out in multi-disciplinary teams. De Zwarte Hond’s portfolio spans the entire spectrum of residential, working and recreational environments, in rural and urban contexts: from villas to row housing, from offices to schools, from cultural facilities to recreational landscape.

Some of De Zwarte Hond’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped De Zwarte Hond achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	7
Total Projects	14

11. Neutelings Riedijk Architects

Neutelings Riedijk Architects was established in Rotterdam in 1987. We offer a strong commitment to design excellence: realizing high quality architecture through the development of powerful and innovative concepts into clear built form. Over the last thirty years Neutelings Riedijk Architects has established itself as a leading international practice, specializing in the design of complex projects for public, commercial and cultural buildings.

The office has great experience in balancing the complex challenges of these projects to meet the ambitions of our client. For our international projects our design force is complemented by technical force through the association with local partners that specialize in architectural engineering, cost calculation and site supervision.

Some of Neutelings Riedijk Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Neutelings Riedijk Architects achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	11

10. Paul de Ruiter Architects

The keywords innovation, sustainability, identity and interaction characterize the vision of Paul de Ruiter Architects. We believe in the future. Since the foundation of our practice in 1994 we work on sustainable, innovative architecture that focuses on the health and happiness of people.

Sustainable technology and aesthetics go hand in hand. After all, appreciating the beauty of buildings is just as important as energy efficiency or the health of an indoor climate.

Some of Paul de Ruiter Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Villa Kogelhof, Zeeland, Netherlands
Villa K, Thuringia, Germany
Sigmax, Enschede, The Netherlands
Polak Building / Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
The 4th Gymnasium, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Paul de Ruiter Architects achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	2
A+Awards Finalist	1
Featured Projects	8
Total Projects	12

9. Borren Staalenhoef Architects

Jacob Borren and André Staalenhoef are modern masters of architecture. Passionate and persevering. Borren Staalenhoef are determined to tackle every aspect of the spatial task; to oversee a large degree of complexity and to reduce it to clear, layered structures. Their ultimate objective is the act of building: the creation of a tangible object that speaks through the details.

Their solutions are the result of a long series of consistent decisions and elaborations: diagrams and matrixes, sketches and artist’s impressions, ground plans and sections, construction models and working drawings. It is in this method of working that the mastery and strength of this architecture lies.

Some of Borren Staalenhoef Architects’s most prominent projects include:

woonhuis Marssum, Marssum, Netherlands
Het Bushok, Kortenhoef, The Netherlands
Villa Juliana, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
Archem Estate, Archem, Netherlands
House Boogert, Epe, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Borren Staalenhoef Architects achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	9
Total Projects	13

8. LEVS architecten

LEVS architecten works from the notion that architecture and urban planning have quite a significant impact on our surroundings, on people and society as a whole, as well as the environment. We incorporate this responsibility when detailing our assignments and in our approach to running our enterprise. We welcome the challenge of complex projects in which our aim lies in finding surprising solutions which deliver a result beyond prior expectations.

Our goal is to design buildings and areas where residents will eventually articulate a passion about the places they work, live and inhabit; spaces which express an optimal interweaving of functionality, aesthetics and sustainability. LEVS architecten was established in 1989 as Loof & van Stigt Architecten.

Some of LEVS architecten’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped LEVS architecten achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	2
Featured Projects	10
Total Projects	20

7. atelier PRO architekten

Atelier PRO is an architectural office in The Hague in the Netherlands that continues to innovate in the field of architecture, urban planning, interior design, building management and building cost management. For more than 35 years we create with the greatest of pleasure well-considered designs for challenging locations, often with extraordinary programmes.

Some of atelier PRO architekten’s most prominent projects include:

Graafschap college, Doetinchem, Netherlands
ROC Graafschap College, Doetinchem, Netherlands
Multifunctional community school Krimpen aan de Lek, Krimpen aan de Lek, Netherlands
School, Child and Community Centre O3, The Hague, Netherlands
MFC De Statie, Sas van Gent, Sas van Gent, Netherlands

The following statistics helped atelier PRO architekten achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	15
Total Projects	98

6. Wiel Arets Architects

Wiel Arets Architects (WAA) is a globally active architecture and design firm, whose work extends to education and publishing, with studios located in the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Comprised of an international team of architects, designers, thinkers and administrators, the firm is currently involved in large number of projects throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

The firm’s architecture and design emerges from research and a balance of hybrid-programming solutions, which adapt to and anticipate future contextual change. The output of WAA is acclaimed for both its craftsmanship and tactility.

Some of Wiel Arets Architects’s most prominent projects include:

Jellyfish House, Marbella, Spain
The Hoge Heren, Zalmhaven, Centrum, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Four Towers Osdorp, Jan van Zutphenstraat, Amsterdam Nieuw-West, Amsterdam, Netherlands
V’ Tower, 565, Flight Forum, Strijp, Eindhoven, Netherlands
University Library Utrecht, 3, Heidelberglaan, Oost, Utrecht, Netherlands

The following statistics helped Wiel Arets Architects achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

Featured Projects	15
Total Projects	22

5. i29

We are i29, an award winning office for interior and architecture projects. In a world that becomes more and more digital, we shape the physical experiences around us; clear, effective, surprising. We deliver work that stands out for its simplicity. The great diversity in our portfolio gives the possibility to think “out of the box” and to work inclusive for all kinds of clients and users.

We do not provide standard solutions, but we do apply standardized working methods to guarantee quality, efficiency and creativity. We innovate by design, and make work that inspires a better future. We are constantly changing to make relevant work.

Some of i29’s most prominent projects include:

Culture 01, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Felix Meritis Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Floating Home, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Home 10, Paris, France
Museum Princessehof, Leeuwarden, Netherlands

The following statistics helped i29 achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Finalist	5
Featured Projects	18
Total Projects	28

4. UNStudio

UNStudio is an international architectural practice, situated in Amsterdam since 1988, with extensive experience in the fields of urbanism, infrastructure, public, private and utility buildings on different scale levels. At the basis of UNStudio are a number of long-term goals, which are intended to define and guide the quality of our performance in the architectural field.

We strive to make a significant contribution to the discipline of architecture, to continue to develop our qualities with respect to design, technology, knowledge and management and to be a specialist in public network projects. We see as mutually sustaining the environment, market demands and client wishes that enable our work, and we aim for results in which our goals and our client’s goals overlap.

Some of UNStudio’s most prominent projects include:

Canaletto, London, United Kingdom
P.C. Hooftstraat 138, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Arnhem Central, Arnhem, Netherlands
Burnham Pavilion, Chicago, IL, United States
Le Toison d’Or, Brussels, Belgium

The following statistics helped UNStudio achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	3
Featured Projects	23
Total Projects	29

3. OMA

OMA is a leading international partnership practicing architecture, urbanism, and cultural analysis. OMA’s buildings and masterplans around the world insist on intelligent forms while inventing new possibilities for content and everyday use.

Some of OMA’s most prominent projects include:

Milstein Hall, Ithaca, NY, United States
11th Street Bridge Park, Washington, DC, United States
Rebuild by Design
Faena District, Miami, FL, United States
MPavilion 2017, Melbourne, Australia

The following statistics helped OMA achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	4
A+Awards Finalist	4
Featured Projects	45
Total Projects	61

2. MVRDV

MVRDV is based in Rotterdam and works in the fields of architecture, urbanism and city planning. Founded by Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs and Nathalie de Vries, the firm has a global scope and approaches each project with a collaborative spirit and through a research-based design method.

Some of MVRDV’s most prominent projects include:

Tianjin Binhai Library, Tianjin, China
Tainan Spring, Tainan, Taiwan
Depot Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Netherlands
WERK12, Munich, Germany
Crystal Houses, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The following statistics helped MVRDV achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	8
Featured Projects	62
Total Projects	75

1. Mecanoo

Mecanoo, officially founded in Delft in 1984, is made up of a highly multidisciplinary staff of creative professionals from 25 countries. The team includes architects, interior designers, urban planners, landscape architects as well as architectural technicians and support staff.

Led by Francine Houben (Creative Director & Founding Partner), Mecanoo has extensive experience designing and realizing exceptional buildings which serve client ambitions while creating vibrant end-user spaces.

Some of Mecanoo’s most prominent projects include:

National Kaohsiung Centre for the Arts (Wei-Wu-Ying), Kaohsiung, Taiwan
HUBB – Learning Environments, Eindhoven, Netherlands
Delft City Hall and Train Station, Delft, Netherlands
Palace of Justice, Córdoba, Spain
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, Washington, DC, United States

The following statistics helped Mecanoo achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Netherlands:

A+Awards Winner	9
A+Awards Finalist	10
Featured Projects	71
Total Projects	109

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “”+”” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

Project completed within the last 3 years
A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
High quality, in focus photographs
At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Reference

Copenhagen store features minimalist interiors by Snøhetta

Interior Design

Snøhetta combines clay and oak for minimalist interior of Holzweiler store

By Zarkon Group,24/02/2023

Architecture practice Snøhetta stuck to natural materials for the fit-out of the Holzweiler boutique in Copenhagen, incorporating subtle references to the fashion brand’s Norwegian heritage.

Snøhetta is a long-term collaborator of Holzweiler‘s, having designed the company’s flagship store and showroom in Oslo, as well as a number of its pop-up shops, runway sets and its digital identity.

For Holzweiler’s first international outpost in Copenhagen, Snøhetta followed the concept of “tracing” – devising an interior scheme that shows traces of the brand’s Norwegian roots alongside the minimalist aesthetic found in its previous retail spaces.

“Reminiscent of a memory or feeling that remains, the idea of ‘traces’ evokes an emotional sense of the brand’s beloved heritage as it travels to a new city,” the practice said.

Holzweiler's Copenhagen store features minimalist interiors by Snøhetta — A clay sculpture by Ingeborg Riseng sits at the heart of the store

At the centre of the 100-square-metre store is a tall, hollow sculpture by Norwegian artist Ingeborg Riseng, which shoppers can step into. Its undulating outer walls are fitted with display shelves and coated in a smooth layer of clay, while the inside has a rough, craggy surface.

An oakwood display plinth winds its way around the periphery of the store, eventually connecting to a curved timber partition at the rear of the floor plan.

Behind the wall lies a changing area with cubicles and curtains created by Danish textile design studio Tronhjem Rømer.

The fabric is digitally printed with subtle yellow and pale blue stripes, designed to evoke the shifting shades of the Norwegian sky.

To contrast the store’s largely natural material palette, Snøhetta added some industrial-style finishing touches like metal clothing rails and custom strip lighting, developed by Swedish brand Ateljé Lyktan.

Both the floors and ceilings were preserved from the store’s previous fit-out.

Other recent projects by Snøhetta include Bolder Star Lodges, a quartet of wooden cabins that overlook a fjord in Norway.

Meanwhile in Denmark, the practice employed boat construction techniques to create a timber community centre in Esbjerg.

The photography is by Magnus Nordstrand, courtesy of Snøhetta and Holzweiler.

Reference

Sustainable News

A glass brick that collects solar energy

By Zarkon Group,24/02/2023

Spotted: In the UK, Solar PV capacity reached 12 gigawatts of energy in 2021. Yet, the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) estimates that only around 900,000 of the 24 million homes in the country currently rely on solar power. There is much room for improvement, and one of the easiest ways to incorporate renewable energy generation into a home or building is by embedding the technology into construction materials.

Professor Tapas Mallick and Dr. Hasan Baig, two University of Exeter researchers, have created Build Solar in order to do just that. Built with patent-pending technology, the Solar Squared glass brick is a direct replacement for traditional glass building materials. Solar Squared bricks let light through, just like current glass building materials do. The difference is that Build Solar’s new blocks generate sustainable energy as well. The bricks are available in several patterns and colours, in addition to the typical clear glass.

Usable in a variety of structures, including commercial spaces, public transport hubs, and housing, the Solar Squared blocks improve a building’s thermal insulation efficiency while providing daylight and renewable energy. The company’s goal is to contribute to carbon-neutral construction and building management and is currently seeking sites in which to test and showcase the technology.

Springwise has spotted other innovations seeking to make renewable energy more accessible, including nailable and wearable solar panels.

Written By: Keely Khoury

Reference

MicroPolis Gallery

How are these architecture firms ranked?

30. Benthem Crouwel Architects

29. Kraaijvanger Architects

28. cepezed

27. derksen|windt architecten

26. Personal Architecture

25. Bloot Architecture

24. Hilberink Bosch Architecten

23. studio PROTOTYPE

22. design Erick van Egeraat

21. Mei architects and planners

20. Barcode Architects

19. NEXT architects

18. René van Zuuk Architects bv

17. GROUP A

16. Shift A+U

15. LIAG architects + engineers

14. Atelier Kempe Thill

13. MoederscheimMoonen Architects

12. De Zwarte Hond

11. Neutelings Riedijk Architects

10. Paul de Ruiter Architects

9. Borren Staalenhoef Architects

8. LEVS architecten

7. atelier PRO architekten

6. Wiel Arets Architects

5. i29

4. UNStudio

3. OMA

2. MVRDV

1. Mecanoo

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

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