Projects

Through my career I’ve worked in many projects, events and concepts. They changed my mindset and turned my focus on architecture.

There were 7 projects who actually changed my life for the better.

They illustrate how my approach on social architecture evolved through time, and how it helps me change my design for a more community-based perspective.

Dome House

Home design and construction - 2021

In the beginning of 2021 I took a time out from work, to start building my own future Dome House as a designer and builder. My love for dome shapes goes way back to the time where I build my first pizza oven in architecture university in Brazil. So there was no question about the shape. I choose a geodesic wood frame structure with a straw roofing for a high insulation value and rustic look. It's radius respects the size of 4 meters with 75 m2 floor space.

This is an open project, where friends and family are helping design, shape and fund the project.

Reusing materials, thinking about energy and water supplies, trying to reduce our footprint due nature and creating a place which is in balance with it’s surroundings. Those are our goals with the project.

Developing a place like this for me is a big challenge. It transcends the field of architecture and brings me something new and exciting.

SEP - Den Helder

Centra of strategical practices - 2016

Concept design is different then architecture design. It consist of creating the program and functions of the building. It has a lot to do with people and activities. It is the life which fills the voids of space.

This kind of design I discovered fully with the project SEP - Den Helder (DNKSTF - Motus-Beheer). Re-purposing a former navy site of 268.000 m2 in the heart of the city. The size and complexity of the study urged for an extensive research of the area. Creating maps, conducting brainstorm sessions and making films helped us find the “missing link” that the city was asking for.

We discovered that from it’s strategic historical position, outstanding outdoor locations and home of the Dutch Navy, Den Helder it is perfect for a learning centra of strategical practices.

This project opened my eyes for the power and importance of early research. Concept design adds outstanding life to architecture and increases the chances for success.

On the Roof

Rooftop landscape at Op Zeezand in Amsterdam - 2015

I was really glad to design the rooftop project “On the Roof” in Amsterdam. Through 10 years of working experience at the edge of architecture and art, this was where everything came together.

The building Op Zeezand is an agglomerate of companies in Amsterdam Noord. We (Beelding and Morfis) designed it in 2009 with two main purposes: to be unique and outspoken. Designing its rooftop was a bigger challenge: How to amplify its exceptional qualities?

We choose to build 4 different buildings, that as a “parasite” would land on the roof landscape. The already existing beach house was the center point of the design, connected to a greenhouse, farmhouse, watertower and finally the moonlander.

I am really proud that “On the Roof” project became a place to be in Amsterdam. Thanks to the owner’s vision and conviction we could show the power of an idea, the triumph effect of outspoken architecture.

Fietzerria

Pizza oven bike - 2011

Architecture is my profession, but pizza ovens are my passion. Sinds the academy I graduated in 2003 I am building pizza ovens. Until this day I’ve already build more then 40 ovens around the world.

In 2010 I was asked by Willem de Kooning Academie to build a mobile oven together with art students in Rotterdam. There the idea to combine it with a cargo bike (BakFiets) was born.

Designing mobile ovens brings up lot’s of challenges: the weight, the size and specially the durability of the structure during cycling. Finally in 2011 the Fietzerria was ready to go.

Nicest thing about this project was bringing the dynamic of cooking pizzas to the streets of the Netherlands. With this bike you can build a party anywhere, anytime. It’s the perfect tool for place making!

For me the Fietzerria is my greatest achievement so far. It represents almost all things I love about: architecture, pizza ovens and bringing people together.

CartoTool

Online application cartography (Geographic Information System) - 2009

Next to architecture I always had a fascination about maps. Historical maps always dragged my attention. Our first version of the CartoTool was called Cito Planning (Beelding - 2005). Its a collection of 500 historical maps of The Hague.

In 2009 we added social/economical maps to the tool. Information like “population density” was attached to subjective surveys like “pleasant streets”. Organising and visualising this data helped develop different urban projects and strategies.

CartoTool uses all open data available due to his ability to connect with different sources and databases. The application is an online map viewer, which make it fast and easy to use.

Looking beyond my borders brought me to astonishing solutions, expanding my own experience.

Het Duinhuis

The Child Service Centre “Het Duinhuis Hartekamp” - 2007

After 3 years of internships (Atelier Pro and Beelding) finally in 2007 I got my first work contract as an architect assistent in the Netherlands. That same year we finished the construction of “Het Duinhuis” in Haarlem.

This school is a place for children with various disabilities. Their condition motivated us to design the best environment possible. Our project consisted in a conventional construction, with a triangular structure roof representing the dunes of Haarlem.

To make such a roof we needed to design on scaled models. We started with a clay model, going through a series of foam models and 3d models. The idea was to create spaces who were buildable and spacious, respecting the human (and children) scale.

When it was built, I had an impression that I was walking in my own thoughts, touching my ideas and experiencing my work. That changed my life.

EREA

Encontro Regional de Estudantes de Arquitetura - 2003

At my last year of the academy (PUC - Campinas 2003) we organised an architecture festival of 7 days. Around 2000 students doing 40 workshops around the city centre of Campinas.

As a 22 year old I was responsible for selecting, managing and supporting the daily activities. From Pizza oven construction to graffiti, video making, to urban skating.

Those workshops happend in 3 different locations: in the city centre, at an old train station and in a favela. Connecting students with different environments and their inhabitants were our biggest challenge.

The second biggest challenge was the budget which was basically non existing. Reusing materials and coming up with creative solutions were essential for the success of the event.

This was my first biggest achievement in my architecture adventure. Here I’ve learned that more important then design is to know how to make it happen!