Sessions
Keynote Address
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM Wed
Hootsmans architectuurbureau is a medium-sized architecture firm based in the city centre of Amsterdam. It was founded in 2006 by Rob Hootsmans (1962).
From 1988 to 1997 Rob Hootsmans worked at several architecture firms, e.g. Koen van Velsen and Ben van Berkel/UN studio. After winning the Prix de Rome for architecture in 1995, he was invited for the position of coordinating architect at the Government Buildings Agency by Wytze Patijn, Chief Government Architect at the time.
Rob Hootsmans sees architecture as the process of investigating and experimenting with the unique character of the (future) location of the building, and the complex rituals of its users. This results in functional and environmentally conscious buildings, which use natural energy resources economically and which contribute to the welfare of its users. A project has succeeded when form, function and sustainability form a natural, logical whole.
A flexible attitude is requisite in order to respond to the client’s specific wishes and to help specify them. It is also based on great involvement of the building’s future users in the creation of the design.
In the past years the office has designed many projects for governmental organisations, cultural institutions and private clients. Often the office finds itself involved in projects that deal with the transformation of existing historic buildings.
Since 1995 Rob Hootsmans has been a guest lecturer and tutor at the Academies of Architecture in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Arnhem, Tilburg and Groningen, and at the Delft University of Technology. From 2003 to 2006 he was a member of the Aesthetics Committee of Amsterdam and supervisor of the Westelijk Havengebied. From 2007 to 2012 Rob Hootsmans was a member of the Architecture Committee of the Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Architecture Committee of the Architects Registration Office.