Every place has a story. Some stories are visible in historic buildings and landscapes, while others are hidden in history, memories, and traditions. We believe that understanding those stories is the foundation of good design. Before we begin drawing, we first study what was there before: centuries of maps, historical patterns, old photographs – these all show us the evolution of a place over time.
This historical research allows us to understand why a place developed the way it did and what gives it its identity today. We create plans that continue the story of a place while making it suitable for contemporary use. Whether we work in a UNESCO World Heritage city, a coastal landscape, or a neighborhood with a complex past, our approach always starts with understanding the significance of the site.
Designing in a UNESCO World Heritage City
Working within a UNESCO World Heritage Site like Willemstad (Curaçao) requires more than preserving individual monuments. It begins with understanding how a city has evolved over centuries. Historic cities are shaped by the relationship between streets and squares, the rhythm of façades, building proportions, sightlines, public spaces, and the way architecture responds to its surroundings. These underlying principles are what give a place its identity, and they are what we take with us into every new design.
This approach also guides our work on existing heritage buildings. At Hotel ‘t Klooster, for example, we looked beyond the physical restoration of the former monastery and studied the different layers of history connected to the building. Built in 1931 by the Fraters van Zwijssen, the monastery reflects both their important contribution to education on the island and the colonial structures and inequalities of that period. Through conversations with a former Frater and research in the archives in Tilburg, we uncovered a complex history: one of dedication and social contribution, but also of colonial perspectives that limited recognition of local identity and culture. These findings became part of the transformation, with historical images and stories incorporated into the hotel so that visitors can experience the building’s layered past.
We have applied the same philosophy to several residences within the protected monumental townscape of Willemstad, including an Art Deco villa and our own office building. Here, the goal was to preserve the historical qualities of the buildings while introducing contemporary additions that improve comfort, sustainability, and long-term usability. Heritage should not become frozen in time; it should remain relevant and able to serve future generations.
The same principle applies to new architecture within historic environments. Creating a new building is not about copying the past. When historical architecture is replicated too literally, a place can quickly lose its authenticity. Take our Waterfort Plaza project for example. Here, valuable heritage elements such as the historic fortifications, important sightlines towards the city and the Caribbean Sea, and centuries-old structures remain central to the design or will be restored. But we’ll add new public squares, buildings, and elevated walkways. All carefully integrated with the existing heritage, this way we are reconnecting parts of Willemstad while creating new ways for people to experience the city.
Designing places with strong local meaning
Not every place is historically significant because of monuments. Some places derive their value from the way they have been used, experienced, and remembered by communities over generations. Landscapes, beaches, neighborhoods, and public spaces all carry stories that contribute to the identity of a place.
We are currently involved in the development of a local beach on Curaçao. Historical maps show that the bay has functioned for well over a century as a naturally sheltered coastal landscape, shaped by the relationship between the sea, the salt flats, mangroves, surrounding lowlands, and the natural watercourses flowing from the interior. It has largely retained its natural character and ecological systems over time. Understanding these historical layers is essential when considering future developments. When you commercialize this place, its unique character disappears. Not every development is a step forward. People fear that the beach will soon no longer be accessible to everyone, but only to (wealthy) tourists – as is expressed in local media over the past months. Designing for places with strong local meaning means respecting both the ecological systems and the social traditions connected to a place. It also means listening to the people who have used these places for decades and still do so today. Local knowledge provides us insights that you cannot get otherwise. For many of our projects, community engagement and stakeholder participation is therefore an essential part of the design process.
In the end, you hope to create a design that contributes to the future of a place, and that you help it to remain accessible to everybody.
Designing places with layered history
Some places carry stories that are more difficult to confront. Across the Caribbean, the built environment still reflects the consequences of colonialism, slavery, and inequality. Several of our projects have involved places connected to these complex histories, including former plantations like Mongui Maduro Library, and are part of sites related to the struggle for freedom. Through archival research, old maps, photographs, and oral histories, we try to understand not only how these places looked, but also how people lived, worked, and experienced them. For example, at Hòfi Mango in Curacao, our masterplan builds on the history of the former Santa Cruz plantation, a place closely connected to the 1795 uprising led by Tula and the struggle for freedom. By transforming the site into a public park, the aim was not only to preserve the landscape, but also to create a place where this important history can be experienced and remembered. At another Curaçaoan project Kura in Otrobanda, historical research revealed another important chapter: the story of formerly enslaved people who were able to buy their freedom and build homes within the city. These historic urban villas, such as Kura di Shon Ki, are central elements in the area as they represent resilience and entrepreneurship. Our new masterplan for the area is inspired by these stories, combining contemporary development with respect for the historic structures and their meaning.
The layers of history is sometimes obscured by the many modifications made to the building over the past centuries. As with the monumental project Huize Batavia from 1747. Over the past decades, the building has had many residents and functions, which have left their marks on the structure. Our task is to restore and strengthen its character while transforming the building into a modern healthcare facility. When you create a design, you look for which layers of history to preserve and want to continue to tell. This can also mean choosing to retain more recent modifications that will also tell part of the building’s story in the future. For this specific project, we have restored the original architectural elements and are reintroducing new elements to reinforce the character of the building.
Keep working on a better environment
Every project begins with a historical and spatial analysis, using old maps, for example. From new construction to restoration, and from Willemstad to Amsterdam: our diverse portfolio is spread throughout the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands. View all of our projects via the project page.
