WOON architecten, currently known as Woonwerk Architecten, operates from Rotterdam and focuses on architecture and complex urban development in existing city environments. The firm is led by Johan de Wachter, who has a background with renowned design institutions such as the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, and by Evelien van Veen, whose career centres on residential projects for elderly populations, including local and international experience in the Netherlands, China, England, and Belgium.
Woonwerk Architecten distinguishes itself through a research-driven approach tailored to the specific socio-cultural and economic context of each project. Instead of applying standard solutions, the design process is shaped through active collaboration with residents and stakeholders, aiming for outcomes closely aligned to the needs of both users and neighbourhoods.
The scope of the practice encompasses the full spectrum of living, from comfortable homes and sustainable buildings to neighbourhood-wide interventions aimed at improving quality of life. Projects frequently combine architectural design and urban planning, particularly where challenges require innovative solutions to perceived constraints.
A notable example in the practice’s recent portfolio is the adaptive reuse of historic urban buildings. For instance, Evelien van Veen contributed to the transformation of the former Drukkerij Wyt building in Rotterdam into 2,500 square metres of office spaces, restoring characteristic 1920s features and integrating them with new functions without erasing the existing identity.
Woonwerk’s work is primarily concentrated in the Netherlands, but also extends abroad through the expertise of its partners. The team’s activities include not only design and project execution, but also engagement in quality commissions, jury work, and policy on architectural standards.