KCAP

De Piek tower in Rotterdam welcomes its first residents Yesterday marked an important milestone as the first residents received the keys to their new homes in De Piek tower from elderman Chantal Zeegers. Positioned at the tip of Feijenoord Island in Rotterdam, the 74-metre-high tower rises over 22 storeys and offers 142 loft-style apartments. The project contributes to the ongoing transformation of Rotterdam Zuid into a lively and attractive urban district. Partner and architect Irma van Oort reflects on the design: “The Piekstraat Tower captures the industrial character of its surroundings. By composing stacked volumes reminiscent of containers, we have created a building that both echoes the area’s heritage and introduces a new urban identity.” The tower stands as a key step in reimagining a historic industrial landscape into a vibrant city quarter, where history and contemporary architecture come together in a distinctive expression. Read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/ecGmjHXU Credits Client: Heijmans Vastgoed Contractor: Heijmans Utilitaire Woningbouw Advisors: IMd Raadgevende Ingenieurs, LBP|SIGHT, Techniplan Adviseurs Photography: Ossip van Duivenbode #KCAP #PiekstraatTower #Rotterdam #Architecture #UrbanDevelopment #IndustrialHeritage #LoftLiving #SustainableDesign

'Xavier Blaringhem shares his vision on high-rise in Strasbourg' This Friday, 12 September 2025, at 18:00, KCAP partner Xavier Blaringhem will be speaking at the round-table “Les tours, un modèle désirable ? / Towers: a desirable model?”. He’ll be joining pascale richter, Ido Avissar, Dominique Coulon and Eric Chenderowsky for what promises to be a rich discussion on high-rise. Xavier will share insights from European practices and from his experience as architect of the Emergence tower in Strasbourg. This 57-metre-high residential tower becomes the inaugural architectural statement of the new Presqu’île–Citadelle district. You can find more details about the project here: https://lnkd.in/eU237Ayz Organised by: SPL Deux-Rives Strasbourg as part of Quartiers libres! La fête du projet urbain Deux-Rives. Location: Phare Citadelle, 13 rue de Nantes, Strasbourg. More information: https://lnkd.in/e6ep44MV Looking forward to seeing many of you there!

KCAP published in Dense+Green Urban Development We are proud to share that KCAP’s Jurong Lake District Masterplan is featured in the third edition of Dense+Green – Urban Development (Birkhäuser, 2025). Planned as a high-density, transit-oriented development (TOD) around Singapore’s future High-Speed Rail terminal, Jurong Lake District integrates public transport, workplaces, housing, amenities, and over 100 hectares of green and blue spaces into a vibrant and connected urban environment. Our founder Kees Christiaanse contributed the foreword to this edition. He led the Jurong Lake District project as masterplanner and chaired the Future Cities Laboratory in Singapore. What makes this publication special is its in-depth, evidence-based research on sustainable urban districts, carried out by the authors in collaboration with leading academic institutions. Jurong Lake District is highlighted as a living example of how integrated, data-driven design can create more liveable, sustainable, and socially vibrant urban environments. 🔗 Learn more about KCAP’s Jurong Lake District project:  https://lnkd.in/ebdHrP7Y 📚 Order the book here: https://lnkd.in/gSAYzgNp — Credits Publisher: Birkhäuser Editor: Thomas Schröpfer Research collaborators: National Research Foundation Singapore, Singapore-ETH Centre, ETH Zürich, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Client: Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) Masterplanner: KCAP (lead), SAA Architects Pte Ltd, Arup, S333 (Studio\Woodroffe\Papa), Lekker #KCAP #JurongLakeDistrict #UrbanDesign #DenseAndGreen #SustainableCities #BlueGreenInfrastructure #FutureCities

Design as Dialogue: KCAP on Accelerating Area Development How can urban design transform complex area development into a shared opportunity for cities, developers, and communities? In our interview with Vastgoedjournaal.nl KCAP partners Jeroen Dirckx and Ruurd Gietema explain how design as dialogue turns abstract ambitions into actionable, sustainable solutions. Key insights from the article on the role of design: 1️⃣ Collective Inquiry: Multiple design scenarios make ambitions tangible and start the dialogue between stakeholders. 2️⃣ Strategic Mediation: Visualising spatial and programmatic choices aligns public and private interests early. 3️⃣ Opportunity Scout: Smart, integrated solutions reveal that higher ambitions for mobility, greenery, and livability are often achievable within budget. 4️⃣ Momentum Generator: A compelling design narrative can activate investment and engagement to turn overlooked areas into thriving, future‑proof neighbourhoods. For KCAP, urban design initiates transformation; it is the first move toward resilient, sustainable cities. We see design as a strategic instrument that sparks dialogue, builds shared commitment, and integrates social, spatial, and ecological ambitions from the very start. This approach not only accelerates complex processes but also creates lasting, high‑quality places where people and nature can thrive. 🔗 Read the full article in Vastgoedjournaal: https://lnkd.in/etT_FrMA #KCAP #UrbanDesign #AreaDevelopment #CityMaking #DesignAsDialogue #Gebiedsontwikkeling #SustainableCities #ClimateResilience #Placemaking #Stedenbouw #FutureProofCities

📢 We're hiring a Communications Manager! Are you passionate about storytelling, design, and sustainability? Do you believe that architecture and urbanism can help build a better, more resilient future? Then you might be the voice we’re looking for. At KCAP, we design cities, buildings, and landscapes with impact. We’re an international, interdisciplinary team with studios in Rotterdam, Zürich, and Paris and we’re looking for a Dutch-speaking communications talent to join us in our Rotterdam office. As our Communications Manager, you’ll take the lead in shaping how we communicate: 📝 Crafting narratives around our projects and values 🎤 Managing PR, media relations, and press opportunities 📸 Creating engaging content, from visuals to words to events 🌍 Amplifying KCAP’s voice at the intersection of design and sustainability We’re looking for someone with: ✔️ Affinity with architecture, urbanism, and landscape design ✔️ Strong organisational and storytelling skills ✔️ A feel for visual communication and photography ✔️ Fluency in Dutch and high proficiency in English Sound like you? Or someone you know? 📩 Apply now or share the vacancy: https://lnkd.in/eQamf6-e #KCAP #CommunicationsManager #Hiring #ArchitectureJobs #UrbanDesign #SustainableDesign #DesignWithImpact #RotterdamJobs

Join us this Saturday, 22 June, for a double opportunity to explore our work! 🔹 Rotterdam Architecture Month: Open Office Day We welcome you to our Rotterdam studio between 14.00 and 17.00, at Piekstraat 27 located on Feijenoord Island, where you can explore our working environment and attend short presentations on our current projects and design approach. More info: https://lnkd.in/d8Dns4_3 🔹 Dag van de Bouw: Piekstraat Tower Earlier that day, between 10.00 and 12.00, you can visit the construction site of our Piekstraat Tower, currently rising on the waterfront of Feijenoord Island. The 22-storey residential building reflects the area’s industrial character and marks a new chapter in its transformation. Visit details: https://lnkd.in/duCpZqzZ We look forward to welcoming you! Image by Heijmans #KCAP #Heijmans #OpenOfficeDay #RotterdamArchitectuurMaand #DagvandeBouw #Feijenoord #UrbanDesign #Architecture #Piekstraat #SummerInSchiemond #EindhovenStationgebied #TransformationInProgress

Zoning Plan Approved for Escher Gardens: A Major Step in the Transformation of The Hague’s Station District The zoning plan for Escher Gardens has been unanimously approved. This ambitious development will bring 1,250 new homes, 10,000 m² of office space, and a range of amenities to the Laakhavens district in The Hague. Featuring two striking residential towers of 156 and 165 metres, Escher Gardens is set to become a vibrant new destination where living, working, and leisure come together. KCAP has been involved in shaping this transformation since 2017, starting with the urban vision for the wider The Hague HS station area, developed in close collaboration with the Municipality of The Hague. Our long-term engagement includes the adaptive reuse of the monumental Stationspostgebouw, now a sustainable and inspiring workplace with the highest BREEAM rating ever awarded to a listed national monument in the Netherlands. Currently, we are proud to be working as architects on Escher Gardens, the next chapter in this urban evolution. For more information, visit the project pages on our website: 🔗 The Hague HS Masterplan https://lnkd.in/e4RQKUyr 🔗 Stationspostgebouw https://lnkd.in/eBN_aJN7 🔗 Escher Gardens https://lnkd.in/eBVhpGbY Developer: SENS real estate / Redevco Investors: Focus on Impact / LIFE NV In collaboration with: DELVA Landscape Architecture / Urbanism #HSKwartier #Laakhavens #TheHague #ZoningPlan #UrbanTransformation #PublicSpace #GreenCity #CyclingCity #AdaptiveReuse #Highrise #KCAP

KCAP wins competition for new residential ensemble on Post Office location in Vlissingen KCAP, in collaboration with developer TEAMforREAL BV and contractor Bouwgroep Peters, has won the competition tender issued by the Municipality of Vlissingen for the redevelopment of the former post office site. The winning proposal, titled Nieuwe Post, transforms this historically significant location into a vibrant new residential and community landmark. The project is located at the head of the Dok van Perry, the Netherlands’ oldest shipbuilding dry dock. Its position enables it to connect Vlissingen’s historic city centre with the renewed Scheldekwartier. As a site where the city’s past and future converge, Nieuwe Post reinterprets the civic presence of the early twentieth-century post office in a contemporary way. The former post office, designed by state architect Wim Knuttel in a Neo-Renaissance style, was rich in detail and craftsmanship. KCAP’s design brings back that character with a composition of five clearly articulated building volumes, echoing the scale and rhythm of the original structure. A central entrance hall, aligned with the axis of the dock, reinstates the post office’s historic role as a connector within the city. Nieuwe Post responds to the layered context of Vlissingen. It bridges the small-scale grain of the inner city with the larger industrial character of the harbour, respecting the maritime identity of the site. The material palette includes red brick façades, light ornamental concrete, and anodised aluminum details, combining a sense of continuity with a refined, modern expression. The development comprises 35 apartments in a variety of types, including lofts, family homes, and penthouses with views of the sea. A generous courtyard garden and a rooftop landscape with shared amenities provide space for residents to meet and relax. Parking is integrated in the block. The design incorporates sustainable strategies such as rainwater retention and native planting to support biodiversity and climate adaptation. A rooftop greenhouse offers additional communal space. With Nieuwe Post, KCAP and its partners offer a design that honours the legacy of the site while embracing the future of Vlissingen. The project creates an inclusive, sustainable, and architecturally distinctive new place to live in the heart of the city. Visualizations - Vivid-Vision #Architecture #Sustainability #KCAP #TEAMforREAL #BouwgroepPeters Wilfried Boonman, Paul Huges, Joeri Beekman, Stefan Den Dekker, Jeffrey Beenhouwer, Menno Baten, Andrew Mersie, Rens van Liere, Sven van Oosten

🌱 Committed to a Biobased Future This week, KCAP joined forces with over 60 architecture firms to sign a collective Commitment Declaration for Biobased Building. This collaborative effort supports the Dutch national ambition that by 2030, at least 30% of all new construction and renovation projects should be biobased. By signing this commitment, we join fellow signatories in confirming our motivation to accelerate the development and scaling of a biobased building economy. Following last year’s Biobased Design Training (delivered by Building Balance), many architects, including KCAP, have united in an informal network to share and champion knowledge in the field of biobased construction. The commitment declaration was a logical next step in this journey. We hope that our clients and advisors will also take steps towards biobased building. Together, we can enable the transition to a circular and biobased (construction) economy. Building a sustainable future, one project at a time! Check out some examples of our biobased projects: IPZ Hallen Zürich - timber interior in re-used aviation hangar https://lnkd.in/e6PVzywx Nieuw Park Rozenburgschool Rotterdam - elementary school renovation and extension in timber construction https://lnkd.in/eFNKFxxw Escher Gardens The Hague - highrise complex partly in timber construction https://lnkd.in/eBVhpGbY Nieuw Buurland Utrecht - social housing in biobased and re-used materials https://lnkd.in/eXrMBJra Linck Oss - social housing with upper floor in CLT construction and finishes with biobased materials https://lnkd.in/d4iJTmXC 📸 Photography credits: Lizzy Zaanen Photography, Filippo Bolognese #Biobased #SustainableArchitecture #CircularEconomy #GreenBuilding #Innovation #Sustainability #KCAP Building Balance, NABB (Nationale Aanpak Biobased Bouwen)