RENE VAN ZUUK ARCHITEKTEN b.v. - architeria.eu

RENE VAN ZUUK ARCHITEKTEN b.v.
De Fantasie 9
1324HZ Almere
T +31 (0)36 53 79 139
www.renevanzuuk.nl




René van Zuuk studied building production technology at the Technical University Eindhoven, where
he graduated in 1988 . Directly after receiving his engineers diploma he started working at the office
of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in London and Chicago (1988-1989). In 1989 he won the competition
“Ongewoon wonen II” (Unusual living II) in Almere with the design for his own house “Psyche”.
With that design he has launched himself as a designer of eye-catchers. Everything about Psyche is
special; the unusual material combinations, the design language, the fragmented way of sponsoring.
After realising the project in 1993 René van Zuuk started his own architectural office in Almere.

In the past sixteen years the office has created an interesting portfolio with a large variety of designs.
Underlying in all the designs is the continuous search for methods to create a building as interesting as
possible with minimised costs. The aim is to unite a maximised degree of ‘particularity’ of the final product
with simplicity in manufacturing. René van Zuuks knowledge of building production technology, is of crucial
importance. Almost every project derives its brilliance from an idea, an invention that initiates and boosts
the design process. The main principles behind the designs can be place in three categories, structure,
production technology and construction.

Each design is based on or joins one or more of these principles. The Arcam building is a direct result
from transforming blob architecture into well thought-out architecture that is based on production
methods. De Verbeelding is derived from construction methods used by the first farmers on the new
lands of Flevoland. Block 16 is a result of playing with Dutch construction principles.

One day per week René works as a professor on the Technical University of Eindhoven, where he teaches
architecture in his own graduation studio. His main aim is to teach the link between design decisions and
building principles. He tries to evoke an interest with his students in the same leading principles we can
distinguish in his own work.

René van Zuuk Architekten has many projects in the pipe line of which three of them will be completed in
the first months of 2009. The last completed projects include the new house for René van Zuuk in Almere
and a school/apartment building in Deventer which goes under the name of Spikvoorde II.

René van Zuuk
> 1988 - Graduated Technical University Eindhoven
> 1988-1989 - Receiving Engineers Diploma and Started Working at the Office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
in London and Chicago
> 1989 - Won the Competition “Ongewoon wonen II” (Unusual living II) in Almere with the design for his own
house “Psyche”.
> 1990 - Worked as a freelance architect
> 1992 - Started his own office in Almere
> 1993-2003 - Tutor at the Academie voor Bouwkunst Amsterdam
> 2003-2004 - Visiting professor, Technical University Eindhoven
> since 2005 - Professor at the Technical University Eindhoven

Projects presented on architeria.eu