We are OZ. We take pride in our craftsmanship and work from an investigative down-to-earth attitude. Without preconceived ideas we create modern architecture that embraces the complexity of life and enriches its environment.
Why architecture is more than real estate
Few urban nomads can live anywhere, but most of us want to live somewhere. This is why we design contemporary buildings with a strong character, that not only react to their context but shape it. We search to understand the qualities of a location and we cherish its historical traces to generate designs that add to its unique character. In this way we shape identity and create a somewhere for the growing number of urbanites.
Why social interaction is important
OZ designs for life in the city, transforming areas into new places to live. We combine programs to create synergy. Social interaction is essential in our architecture. We make spaces for people to meet, places to relax and work. We believe that it is our job as architects to create those spaces, public or collective, in and around our buildings, wherever possible.
Why we believe in density
If we don’t want to succumb into endless sprawl, traffic jams and pollution, we must embrace density. For us, densifying cities creates a very interesting challenge. Because of its complexity, density creates new solutions, new opportunities, new cultures, new communities, new art, new music and new architecture. Sprawl is boring, density is exciting.
Why we embrace clever architecture
To make projects sustainable we rely more and more on technical installations. On the path towards designing Paris Proof buildings, we believe, this large dependence on installations will become counter effective. We want to make projects not only thoroughly sustainable but also feasible. So when we decided to embrace the sustainable idea of buildings without mechanical heating or ventilation, exchanging technical hardware for software, using biobased materials and dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of our designs we do this not because we are idealists but because we are realists.
Why architecture stimulates nature
To transform parts of our city in new thriving places for people to work and live, we have to look beyond buildings. There can be no good densification of the city without intensifying urban nature in the form of greens and parks for people and green roofs and walls for fauna. As the countryside, in a sense, becomes more mono-functional the city has the potential to enforce natural diversity, to bring people and nature closer together.
Team
Jamie Bakkes
architect
Leontine Boots
technical designer
John Bosch
architect partner
Philippe Collette
technical designer
Jessie Dong
architect
Lennart Dorrestijn
technical designer
Cecilia Gallardo Rioseco
architect
Stefano Giudici
architect
Enrique Ibáñez De Pablo
architect
Martin de Jong
senior architect
Sander Kleijn
senior technical designer
Gijs de Kok
technical designer
Valentijn Kortekaas
graphic designer
Beata Kozlovska
architect
Jacko Laan
senior technical designer
Sung-Ching Lo
designer
Simone di Massa
architect
Mark Lodder
senior technical designer
Sharon Nuismer
secretary
Ewald Plas
technical designer
Gijs Poldermans
designer??
Willem Reitsma
administration
Oresti Sarafopoulos
architect partner
Rogier Söhne
architect
Nikola Todorovic
architect
Thijs Ultee
architect
Maarten Verhelst
senior architect
Sylvia Visser
senior technical designer
Farida de Vries
architect
Marilene de Wit
architect
Joanna Wnuk
interior architect
Wouter Zaaijer
founding partner
Chris Zwiers
architect partner
Koos Zwitser
project manager
Marlies Zwols
business director