Diverse team collaborating around a laptop in office

How we work matters more than what we build

Half our work involves buildings somebody else put up first, which changes how we survey, how we cost, and how we argue with planning.

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Diverse team collaborating around a laptop in office

How we work matters more than what we build

Half our work involves buildings somebody else put up first, which changes how we survey, how we cost, and how we argue with planning.

Play video

Play video

Diverse team collaborating around a laptop in office

How we work matters more than what we build

Half our work involves buildings somebody else put up first, which changes how we survey, how we cost, and how we argue with planning.

Play video

Play video

Positioning statement

Anindependentarchitecturepracticeofthirty,buildingacrosshousing,culture,education,andtheadaptivereuseofexistingbuildings.Clientstendtocometouswhenthesiteisdifficult:afixedbudget,aprotectedfacade,aschoolthatcan'tcloseforaday.Thatistheworkwewant.
Asitewithnoconstraintsgivesyounothingtopushagainst.Asitewithfourgivesyouaplanbeforeyouhavedrawnanything.Weareslowatthestart,wherethedecisionsarecheap,andquickafterwards.
Wetakeprojectsfromfirstsketchtohandoverwithoutpassingthemon,andwegobacktwoyearslatertomeasurewhetherthebuildingdoeswhatwesaiditwould.Sometimesitdoesnot.Wepublishthenumbereitherway.
Anindependentarchitecturepracticeofthirty,buildingacrosshousing,culture,education,andtheadaptivereuseofexistingbuildings.Clientstendtocometouswhenthesiteisdifficult:afixedbudget,aprotectedfacade,aschoolthatcan'tcloseforaday.Thatistheworkwewant.
Asitewithnoconstraintsgivesyounothingtopushagainst.Asitewithfourgivesyouaplanbeforeyouhavedrawnanything.Weareslowatthestart,wherethedecisionsarecheap,andquickafterwards.
Wetakeprojectsfromfirstsketchtohandoverwithoutpassingthemon,andwegobacktwoyearslatertomeasurewhetherthebuildingdoeswhatwesaiditwould.Sometimesitdoesnot.Wepublishthenumbereitherway.
Anindependentarchitecturepracticeofthirty,buildingacrosshousing,culture,education,andtheadaptivereuseofexistingbuildings.Clientstendtocometouswhenthesiteisdifficult:afixedbudget,aprotectedfacade,aschoolthatcan'tcloseforaday.Thatistheworkwewant.
Asitewithnoconstraintsgivesyounothingtopushagainst.Asitewithfourgivesyouaplanbeforeyouhavedrawnanything.Weareslowatthestart,wherethedecisionsarecheap,andquickafterwards.
Wetakeprojectsfromfirstsketchtohandoverwithoutpassingthemon,andwegobacktwoyearslatertomeasurewhetherthebuildingdoeswhatwesaiditwould.Sometimesitdoesnot.Wepublishthenumbereitherway.

Stats

By the numbers

Figures we measure and publish, not estimates from a brochure.

Carbon avoided

2,000t

Emissions avoided by leaving things alone

Lowest recorded

0kg

CO₂e/m², by repairing rather than replacing

Energy in use

200%

Below the model, in a sector that overshoots

Stats

By the numbers

Figures we measure and publish, not estimates from a brochure.

Carbon avoided

2,000t

Emissions avoided by leaving things alone

Lowest recorded

0kg

CO₂e/m², by repairing rather than replacing

Energy in use

200%

Below the model, in a sector that overshoots

Stats

By the numbers

Figures we measure and publish, not estimates from a brochure.

Carbon avoided

2,000t

Emissions avoided by leaving things alone

Lowest recorded

0kg

CO₂e/m², by repairing rather than replacing

Energy in use

200%

Below the model, in a sector that overshoots

Team

Meet the practice

Average tenure is seven years, which is why projects don't lose their thread.

grayscale photography of woman wearing sweater

more about me on:

Émile Laurent

Founding Director

woman wearing black sleeveless top

more about me on:

Clara van der Meer

Partner, Architecture

a man with glasses

more about me on:

Matthias Vogel

Partner, Urban Strategy

a black and white photo of a woman standing in front of a window

more about me on:

Camille Dubois

Associate, Interiors

a black and white photo of a man with a beard

more about me on:

Hugo Vermeer

Technical Director

grayscale photo of woman in black long sleeve shirt

more about me on:

Inês Carvalho

Studio Researcher

people standing inside city building

Want to join the team?

Team

Meet the practice

Average tenure is seven years, which is why projects don't lose their thread.

grayscale photography of woman wearing sweater

more about me on:

Émile Laurent

Founding Director

woman wearing black sleeveless top

more about me on:

Clara van der Meer

Partner, Architecture

a man with glasses

more about me on:

Matthias Vogel

Partner, Urban Strategy

a black and white photo of a woman standing in front of a window

more about me on:

Camille Dubois

Associate, Interiors

a black and white photo of a man with a beard

more about me on:

Hugo Vermeer

Technical Director

grayscale photo of woman in black long sleeve shirt

more about me on:

Inês Carvalho

Studio Researcher

people standing inside city building

Want to join the team?

Team

Meet the practice

Average tenure is seven years, which is why projects don't lose their thread.

grayscale photography of woman wearing sweater

more about me on:

Émile Laurent

Founding Director

woman wearing black sleeveless top

more about me on:

Clara van der Meer

Partner, Architecture

a man with glasses

more about me on:

Matthias Vogel

Partner, Urban Strategy

a black and white photo of a woman standing in front of a window

more about me on:

Camille Dubois

Associate, Interiors

a black and white photo of a man with a beard

more about me on:

Hugo Vermeer

Technical Director

grayscale photo of woman in black long sleeve shirt

more about me on:

Inês Carvalho

Studio Researcher

people standing inside city building

Want to join the team?

Process

How the work runs

Five stages, from first conversation through to the year after handover.

01

Listen and look

We visit the site, read the constraints, and write down what the project actually has to solve before any drawing starts.

02

Test the brief

Feasibility studies, massing options, and an early cost range, so the decision to continue is made with numbers rather than hope.

03

Design and consent

One scheme developed properly, with planning submissions, heritage input, and consultants coordinated from the same model.

04

Detail and tender

Technical packages drawn to be built, then tendered and reviewed with you so price, programme, and quality stay in the same conversation.

05

On site and handover

Weekly presence during construction, then completion, occupation, and a return visit a year later to see how the building is used.

Experience

One team, start to finish

The people who visit your site are the people who draw it and answer questions on site. No handover to strangers.

Costs named early

A budget range at feasibility, updated at every stage, so decisions are made against real numbers, no surprises.

A fixed weekly rhythm

One call, one short note, and drawings you can actually read. You always know what is being decided next.

Process

How the work runs

Five stages, from first conversation through to the year after handover.

01

Listen and look

We visit the site, read the constraints, and write down what the project actually has to solve before any drawing starts.

02

Test the brief

Feasibility studies, massing options, and an early cost range, so the decision to continue is made with numbers rather than hope.

03

Design and consent

One scheme developed properly, with planning submissions, heritage input, and consultants coordinated from the same model.

04

Detail and tender

Technical packages drawn to be built, then tendered and reviewed with you so price, programme, and quality stay in the same conversation.

05

On site and handover

Weekly presence during construction, then completion, occupation, and a return visit a year later to see how the building is used.

Experience

One team, start to finish

The people who visit your site are the people who draw it and answer questions on site. No handover to strangers.

Costs named early

A budget range at feasibility, updated at every stage, so decisions are made against real numbers, no surprises.

A fixed weekly rhythm

One call, one short note, and drawings you can actually read. You always know what is being decided next.

Process

How the work runs

Five stages, from first conversation through to the year after handover.

01

Listen and look

We visit the site, read the constraints, and write down what the project actually has to solve before any drawing starts.

02

Test the brief

Feasibility studies, massing options, and an early cost range, so the decision to continue is made with numbers rather than hope.

03

Design and consent

One scheme developed properly, with planning submissions, heritage input, and consultants coordinated from the same model.

04

Detail and tender

Technical packages drawn to be built, then tendered and reviewed with you so price, programme, and quality stay in the same conversation.

05

On site and handover

Weekly presence during construction, then completion, occupation, and a return visit a year later to see how the building is used.

Experience

One team, start to finish

The people who visit your site are the people who draw it and answer questions on site. No handover to strangers.

Costs named early

A budget range at feasibility, updated at every stage, so decisions are made against real numbers, no surprises.

A fixed weekly rhythm

One call, one short note, and drawings you can actually read. You always know what is being decided next.

Good words

Long relationships

Housing associations, developers, schools, health providers, and cultural foundations.

Theyturnedanawkwardsiteintothemostvisitedstretchoftheharbourwithinaseason.Theyhandledthefloodandaccessconstraintswithoutevermakingthemthestory.Thepublicsimplyarrived.
smiling woman sitting on black chair

Alina Petrescu

Portfolio Lead

Good words

Long relationships

Housing associations, developers, schools, health providers, and cultural foundations.

Theyturnedanawkwardsiteintothemostvisitedstretchoftheharbourwithinaseason.Theyhandledthefloodandaccessconstraintswithoutevermakingthemthestory.Thepublicsimplyarrived.
smiling woman sitting on black chair

Alina Petrescu

Portfolio Lead

Good words

Long relationships

Housing associations, developers, schools, health providers, and cultural foundations.

Theyturnedanawkwardsiteintothemostvisitedstretchoftheharbourwithinaseason.Theyhandledthefloodandaccessconstraintswithoutevermakingthemthestory.Thepublicsimplyarrived.
smiling woman sitting on black chair

Alina Petrescu

Portfolio Lead

Awards & Recognition

For what it's worth

Awards, shortlistings, and where the work has been written about.

2026

European Architecture Award

#

Shortlisted

Shortlisted for the Valea Nouă Housing project in recognition of its civic generosity, low-energy strategy, and careful use of local materials.

2025

French Design Week 2025

#

Project of the Year

Recognised for the House of Light, a compact home that turns a difficult urban plot into a sequence of calm, daylit rooms.

2025

A10 New European Architecture

#

40 Under 40

The studio was included among emerging practices shaping a more grounded and generous European architecture.

2024

Architizer A+ Awards

#

Winner

Winner in the Adaptive Reuse category for the Halle Deschamps cultural conversion, a former locomotive works in Nantes.

2023

BETA Architecture Biennial

#

Special Mention

A special mention for the Timișoara Courtyard, a project that turns an overlooked urban threshold into a shared garden.

2022

Dezeen Awards

#

Longlisted

Longlisted for the Măgura Retreat, a small hospitality project shaped by terrain, silence, and seasonal change.

Awards & Recognition

For what it's worth

Awards, shortlistings, and where the work has been written about.

2026

European Architecture Award

#

Shortlisted

Shortlisted for the Valea Nouă Housing project in recognition of its civic generosity, low-energy strategy, and careful use of local materials.

2025

French Design Week 2025

#

Project of the Year

Recognised for the House of Light, a compact home that turns a difficult urban plot into a sequence of calm, daylit rooms.

2025

A10 New European Architecture

#

40 Under 40

The studio was included among emerging practices shaping a more grounded and generous European architecture.

2024

Architizer A+ Awards

#

Winner

Winner in the Adaptive Reuse category for the Halle Deschamps cultural conversion, a former locomotive works in Nantes.

2023

BETA Architecture Biennial

#

Special Mention

A special mention for the Timișoara Courtyard, a project that turns an overlooked urban threshold into a shared garden.

2022

Dezeen Awards

#

Longlisted

Longlisted for the Măgura Retreat, a small hospitality project shaped by terrain, silence, and seasonal change.

Awards & Recognition

For what it's worth

Awards, shortlistings, and where the work has been written about.

2026

European Architecture Award

#

Shortlisted

Shortlisted for the Valea Nouă Housing project in recognition of its civic generosity, low-energy strategy, and careful use of local materials.

2025

French Design Week 2025

#

Project of the Year

Recognised for the House of Light, a compact home that turns a difficult urban plot into a sequence of calm, daylit rooms.

2025

A10 New European Architecture

#

40 Under 40

The studio was included among emerging practices shaping a more grounded and generous European architecture.

2024

Architizer A+ Awards

#

Winner

Winner in the Adaptive Reuse category for the Halle Deschamps cultural conversion, a former locomotive works in Nantes.

2023

BETA Architecture Biennial

#

Special Mention

A special mention for the Timișoara Courtyard, a project that turns an overlooked urban threshold into a shared garden.

2022

Dezeen Awards

#

Longlisted

Longlisted for the Măgura Retreat, a small hospitality project shaped by terrain, silence, and seasonal change.

FAQ

Things worth knowing first

Cost, programme, and how an appointment actually works.

0

1

How are your fees structured?

A fixed fee, agreed once the scope is clear, rather than a percentage. Full service typically lands between 8% and 12% of build cost, higher for reuse and listed work. Feasibility studies are quoted separately.

0

2

Can we talk before we've bought the site?

0

3

How long does a project take?

0

4

Do you take on small projects?

0

5

Who from the practice would work on my project?

0

6

Do you work outside the Netherlands and Belgium?

Have any specific questions?

FAQ

Things worth knowing first

Cost, programme, and how an appointment actually works.

0

1

How are your fees structured?

A fixed fee, agreed once the scope is clear, rather than a percentage. Full service typically lands between 8% and 12% of build cost, higher for reuse and listed work. Feasibility studies are quoted separately.

0

2

Can we talk before we've bought the site?

0

3

How long does a project take?

0

4

Do you take on small projects?

0

5

Who from the practice would work on my project?

0

6

Do you work outside the Netherlands and Belgium?

Have any specific questions?

FAQ

Things worth knowing first

Cost, programme, and how an appointment actually works.

0

1

How are your fees structured?

A fixed fee, agreed once the scope is clear, rather than a percentage. Full service typically lands between 8% and 12% of build cost, higher for reuse and listed work. Feasibility studies are quoted separately.

0

2

Can we talk before we've bought the site?

0

3

How long does a project take?

0

4

Do you take on small projects?

0

5

Who from the practice would work on my project?

0

6

Do you work outside the Netherlands and Belgium?

Have any specific questions?

What are you building?

Housing, a school, a clinic, a warehouse you've just bought. Start anywhere.

  • Maison des Tilleuls
    Harbour Commons
    Atlantic Workshop
    low angle view photography of a gray building
    Atlantic Courtyard
    House of Light
    Northbank Commons
    man walking on library
    Asteria Courtyard Homes
    The Listening Room
    Porto Passage
    Green Line Offices

What are you building?

Housing, a school, a clinic, a warehouse you've just bought. Start anywhere.

  • Maison des Tilleuls
    Harbour Commons
    Atlantic Workshop
    low angle view photography of a gray building
    Atlantic Courtyard
    House of Light
    Northbank Commons
    man walking on library
    Asteria Courtyard Homes
    The Listening Room
    Porto Passage
    Green Line Offices

What are you building?

Housing, a school, a clinic, a warehouse you've just bought. Start anywhere.

  • Maison des Tilleuls
    Harbour Commons
    Atlantic Workshop
    low angle view photography of a gray building
    Atlantic Courtyard
    House of Light
    Northbank Commons
    man walking on library
    Asteria Courtyard Homes
    The Listening Room
    Porto Passage
    Green Line Offices

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Stay in touch

New journal pieces, projects reaching completion, and roles we're hiring for.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Newsletter

Stay in touch

New journal pieces, projects reaching completion, and roles we're hiring for.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

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