Signature
'Understanding of social cohesion. And pure fascination for technology'
The architecture of Meyer en Van Schooten Architecten is characterized by clear, consistent and innovative design. The office has a large interest in feasibility of design, therefore innovative interaction between all those concerned are of great value. An integrated treatment of design from early stage up to actual implementation as to provide durable and pleasant solutions.
The portfolio of the architectural practice became varied in the course of the 1990s: in addition to residential buildings, design also included schools, offices and bridges.
In December 1997 the practice was selected to design the new head office building for the ING Group in Amsterdam, which was delivered in 2002.
In 2003 the office collaborated with Benthem Crouwel and West 8 to form the CS Team, and won the prestigious commission to design the new central station for Rotterdam, a major transport hub with facilities for the new high speed train connection.
In 2006 the practices portfolio expanded to include ambitious projects abroad. Meyer en van Schooten Architecten designed a master plan for the town in Nyon in Switzerland, which includes new buildings containing community facilities, a hotel and commercial buildings. In Almatly Kazakhstan, the practice has designed two new large multifunctional buildings / complexes in the heart of its new financial district.
In 2008 and 2009 no less than 7 projects were constructed and delivered. These were the apartment complex La Grande Cour, Amsterdam, the Ministry of Finance in The Hague, the new Faculty of Science (FNWI) for the University of Amsterdam, the new main office for fishing company W. Van der Zwan&Zn. in Scheveningen, the Central Bureau for Statistics in Heerlen, a cinema house in Emmeloord, and the Almere Public Library located within Almere's new town centre. Currently the practice is working on, among others, the new headquarters of the Royal Netherlands Army Command and the renovation and extension of New Babylon in The Hague.
'A central concept in our thinking is that good architecture must transcend the era of its creation'
The office has won many awards in different fields. Among others the Dutch BNA-Award Building of The Year 2008 Regio Noord-West/Centrum for the apartment complex La Grande Cour, Amsterdam. In 2009 for the Ministry of Finance in The Hague Regio Delta. And again in 2010 for W. Van der Zwan&Zn. in the same region.
The growth however is not limited by the number of employees or office space. After almost twenty years the managing directors, Roberto Meyer en Jeroen van Schooten, expanded the management by inviting two key employees to become part of the board of directors. Gerard van Hoorn joined the board in 2003 after ten years of employment as the facility and personnel management, and in 2007 Barry van Waveren, joined the board after nine years of employment as the project architect leader for such prestigious projects as the ING House, Faculty of Science and the of Almere City Center library.
‘Our work is often described as dynamic, functional and innovative’
Design starts with a thorough analysis of the programme of requirements, the site, and the surroundings. Apparent contradictions between programme and context are embraced in defining a specific approach to a commission. Buildings derive their expression from the exploitation of contrasts: building versus surroundings, inside versus outside, old versus new, light versus dark. Our aim is to translate the potential contained in the design task into an ideal programme so that the rational and ideal programmes can form a synergy and reinforce each other. Underpinning each project is a clear visual concept and a well-considered design strategy.
Key factors in our work are clarity, order, detailing, and use of material. These greatly determine the expression and consistency of a building, an integral aspect of which is the interior, linked inextricably to the exterior in our designs. These elements are deployed to give shape to the concept, and the architecture acquires the perfectionism that we strive for, no matter what the nature of the design task.
The portfolio of projects undertaken by our office is varied: public housing, villas, urban designs, shopping centres, office complexes, and schools. Our work is often described in the press using terms like ‘dynamic’, ‘functional’, ‘innovative use of materials’, ‘expressive’, and ‘fascination for technology’. This last refers not only to the elaboration of architectural concepts, but also to the application of innovative techniques in seeking to advance the art of making buildings. In this respect, a central concept in our thinking is that good architecture must transcend the era of its creation.