Profile
Space Encounters creates innovative and remarkable architecture on all scales. With great joy and sensitivity we design buildings and spaces for living, working and playing that take a resounding position and give a lasting positive impact to its surroundings and users. The practice has a broad expertise in commisions regarding transformation, building in complex urban contexts and sustainable living solutions.
Space Encounters is an internationally operating and award winning architecture firm led by the brothers Gijs and Joost Baks. In a contrarian and hands-on fashion we approach each project as an invitation to find an answer to the question: What is the best the project can be? In every collaboration we see a shared exploration into the pursuit of well-made architecture, which involves an open and optimistic attitude in finding the best responses.
As a team we discuss our view(s) on architecture and architectural thinking regularly. The following statements are recaps from these conversations.
Architecture is about the future
We believe that through our work we challenge and strive to improve the status quo. Architecture is about the future, but inextricably linked to the past, as a form of continued history projected into the future. We aim to design revolutionary, optimistic buildings.
It has to be an experiment
We aim to connect to people with imaginative and articulated architecture that results in strong images, whether ornamental or abstract, hand-crafted or technological, spectacular or quiet. We aim to let the poetics of architecture manifest in surprising combinations of program, material and users.
Lyrical minimalism is a our way to deal with economic constraints
We believe that less choices make better projects. In the unavoidable process of retrenchment, we bring our designs to their essence. This lyrical minimalism, to us, is the concurrence of essence and accident. We don't shun the banal and excel in making buildings express great value while economical to build.
We foster respect and understanding with our clients
By taking adequate time to think with our clients during the design process, we provide solutions of greater clarity and quality. Together, we identify the core questions of a commission and cultivate shared positions from which we collectively evaluate the architectural proposals that follow.
Is the complexity of the city comparable to the complexity of nature?
We see city and nature as the same thing only with different conditions. Operating within existing (urban) landscapes means the transformation of existing multiple and parallel realities. All creation is transformation. The majority of the human population is living in cities. For a healthy future, sustainable and radical inclusiveness is needed without losing the identity of the places. Existing structures or buildings need to be revalued to create more living than destruction. How can they be the basis for something better? We believe in de smart desification of our current cities by means of transformation of and the addition to the existing buildingmass.
The endless space of the universe
We approach architecture in a holistic way. The line between nature and architecture is diffuse for us and although our main clients are human, our vision is not anthropocentric. We consider humans as part of a complex system; our spaceship earth. We do not strictly build for humans, but consider a bigger picture. Not only by accommodating contemporary needs, wishes and objectives, but also by imagining what the future could be and facilitate it. Our buildings are open structures, subject to change and transformation.
Thinking and doing
The curiosity for innovation and refreshing perspectives keeps us moving. In a controlled mixture of soberness and capriciousness we combine conceptual thinking and craftsmanship. Associative thinking and spontaneous creation are generated by physical modeling.
We are storytellers
We see architecture as a romantic discipline that is approached scientifically. We are romanticists working with and within rationalised paradigms to create conditions for the richness of places to unfold. Telling stories to uncover the potential of assignments, places and sights is part of our DNA.
Let's take an optimistic position
We do not pretend that architecture provides solutions but are convinced that good architecture is relevant. Knowing that the result will be a realised building, model or sketch manifested on a 1:1 scale, stimulates a natural optimism. Making architecture requires optimistic willingness to do the work. This optimism is based on the trust in, the curiosity for and the dedication to the journey ahead.
Honours
- 2020
Winner Gulden Feniks
Het Platform, De Nieuwe Stad - 2020
Winner Stadsbouwprijs Amersfoort
Het Platform - 2020
Winner Architectenweb Award Office Building of the Year
Het Platform - 2020 AR Building honourable mention for Heuvelinkprijs Arnhem
- 2019 Dezeen nomination Emerging Architect of the Year
- 2018
Nomination Amsterdamse Nieuwbouwprijs
CPO Apartments Zaaiersweg - 2018 Winner Frame Award Emerging Designer of the Year
- 2018 Winner ARC17 Interior Award, Sony Music Entertainment office
- 2017
Winner The International Architecture Award
Joolz office - 2017
Nominated Geurt Brinkgreve Bokaal
Joolz office - 2017
Nomination Geurt Brinkgreve Bokaal
CPO Apartments Zaaiersweg - 2017
Winner BNA Building of the Year (Stimulating Environments)
Joolz office - 2017 Winner Next Step Award
- 2016
Nominated ARC16 Interior Award
Joolz office - 2016
Finalist Dutch Design Awards
Boring Collection - 2016
Winner Milan Design Award
Boring Collection - 2014
First prize Best Architecture Almere
Rebel House
Clients
- Schipper Bosch Ontwikkeling, Amersfoort
- Van Wijnen Ontwikkeling, Diemen
- Synchroon, Utrecht
- Edwin Oostmeijer Ontwikkeling, Amsterdam
- Being Development, Amsterdam
- Heijmans, Rosmalen
- CBRE, Amsterdam
- Leyten, Rotterdam
- Stebru, Nieuwenkerk aan den IJssel
- Kondor Wessels Projecten, Maarssen
- Kondor Wessels Vastgoed, Amsterdam
- Boelens De Gruyter, Amsterdam
- Flow Real Estate
- VORM Ontwikkeling, Rotterdam
- Edge Technologies, Amsterdam
- Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, Den Haag
- Apenkooi Events, Amsterdam
- Certitudo, Den Bosch
- Lingotto
- Mevrouw Meijer, Amsterdam
- Karbouw, Amersfoort
- De Berg Real Estate, Amsterdam
Competitions (tenders and selections)
- 2022
Architectenselectie, Rotterdam, 1st prize
Het Gele Gebouw, - 2021
Prijsvraag Buitenplaats Koningsweg, Arnhem, 1st prize
Dolmen - 2021
Ontwikkeltender Westersingel, Rotterdam, in collaboration with ZUS, final round
Go West - 2019
Architectenselectie, Bern (CH), in collaboration with Frischi Beis Architektur, 1st prize
Siedlung Holliger - 2019
Ontwikkeltender Bakemapark, Amsterdam, final round
Geus - 2018
Ontwikkeltender Kenniskwartier Zuidas, Amsterdam, in collaboration with Powerhouse Company and So-iL, final round
Kenniskwartier - 2017
Ontwikkeltender Schalkwijk, Haarlem, final round
Aziepark - 2016
Architectenselectie, Groningen, 1st prize
NCG office - 2016
Architectenselectie, Amsterdam, 1st prize
Joolz office - 2015
Architectenselectie, Amsterdam, 1st prize
Clink Noord - 2014
Ontwikkeltender Watergraafsmeer, Amsterdam, 1st prize
Zaaiersweg apartments - 2014
Architectenselectie, Amsterdam, 1st prize
Sid Lee office
Jury member
- 2021 Architectenweb Awards
- 2018 BNA Gebouw van het Jaar
Teaching
- Academie van Bouwkunst, Amsterdam
- Rotterdamse Academie van Bouwkunst, Rotterdam
- Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture, Delft
- Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten, Den Haag
- Fontys Academie voor Architectuur en Stedenbouw, Tilburg
Selected publications
- 2020 April Bauen in Stahl Steeldoc, Radikal schonend, Het Platform
- 2020 August Bouwen met staal magazine, Een typologische cross-over, Het Platform
- 2020 May mrisse Zeitschrift fur Baukultur (DE), Zusammengefasst, Het Platform
- 2020 May Bauwelt (DE), Ontwikkeling, Het Platform de Architect, Start-up Space Encounters
- 2019 September de Architect, ARC19 Awards, Synchroon Office
- 2019 April Domus magazine (IT), Space Encounters creates temporary museum of Dutch creativity, The Museum
- 2018 December de Architect, Cover photo, Transito
- 2018 November D, Gezond bouwen wordt de number one thing, Joost Baks
- 2018 June FD Magazine, De Kantoortuin, JOOLZ Office
- 2018 April Dude, dutch design magazine, Rebel Bar, Transito
- 2017 November de Architect, ARC17 Awards, Sony Music Office
- 2017 September de Architect, Start-up Space Encounters
- 2017 September Monocle, Youthfull exuberance, JOOLZ Office
- 2017 July FRAME Magazine, Space Encounters implants the green office trend into a former factory, Joolz Office
- 2017 April Jaarboek Architectuur in Nederland 2016-2017, JOOLZ Office
- 2017 April de Volkskrant, Space Encounters wint eerste Next Step Award
- 2017 February Architectenweb Magazine, Inside-out, JOOLZ Office
- 2016 November de Architect, ARC16 Awards, JOOLZ Office
- 2016 October Dutch Design Today, Boring Collection
- 2016 April Corriere Della Sera, Cover photo, Boring Collection in Milano
- 2014 January de Volkskrant, Delicaat doosje, Rebel House
- 2013 July Wallpaper* Magazine, Architects Directory, SH House
- 2013 February MARK Magazine, Sharpens the rear, SH House
- 2012 November A10 new European architecture, Delicatessen kit, Dames Dietz
- 2012 August Architectuur NL magazine, Dames Dietz
- 2012 March Industrieel Bouwen met Hout, Dames Dietz
-
Gijs at Oostenburg, ‘correcting’ the wall edges -
Winner Stadsbouwprijs Amersfoort 2020 with ZUS and Schipper Bosch -
Space Encounters is game -
Online lecture, universtity of Berlin -
Online lecture, universtity of Berlin -
Space Encounters is music -
Yearbook Architecture 2020 publication announcement at Luxor Rotterdam -
Joost at Space Encounters office -
Winner Arc19, 2019 -
Sinterklaas visiting Space Encounters Office -
Music is First at Oumuamua -
Bar tendering at Oumuamua -
Teamdiner at Oumuamua -
Brothers in arms at Oumuamua -
Model exhibition Factoryplot -
New Year diner -
Interview with Joost Baks in ‘Het Financieel Dagblad’, 2018 -
Team excursion to Antwerp -
Team excursion to Antwerp -
Team excursion to Antwerp -
Lecture about Buiksloterham -
Making a mark in concrete, Het Platform -
Transito on the cover of De Architect, 2018 -
Opening event Transito -
Excursion with students AVB Amsterdam -
Space Encounters wins Frame Award Emerging Designer of the Year, 2018 -
Space Encounters winner Next Step Award, 2017 -
Boring Collection wins Milan Design Award, 2016
