bright designs for a better built tomorrow

Brightside is looking for new bright team members: a talented Architect, a bright Technical Designer/Modeller and - as always - bright Interns! Check out our vacancies right away.

The 'round table discussions' are well attended; Each table examines a relevant theme under the guidance of an expert. Maarten joins a table that examines the sense and nonsense of high-rise buildings in Rotterdam, viewed from the perspective of CO2 emissions. The conclusion: stop doing that!

Sander and Maarten visit the 10th edition of the Rotterdam City Makers Congress (Stadmakerscongres). On this day, organized by AIR, all 'city makers' of Rotterdam unite to think together about the challenges of the city of the future. Making an active contribution to solving spatial and social issues in the city is an important part of Brightside Architects' mission.

Frans van Hooijdonk presents his lighting plan for Brightside's 'pied-à-terre' in the forests of Belgium. According to him, the concept is as simple as it is effective: you sit around the campfire and at a certain point you take the fire inside...

Together with director Henk-Jan van den Bor of Alconstrux, the frame supplier for our passive house ‘topping up’ (roof extension), Sander inspects the machines and the production process.

… After which the perforations are neatly sealed with airtight tape.

… regularly weighing how much insulation has actually been inserted and whether the tightness is consistent...

… and injected into the ceiling...

… and with that, the blowing of the roof with Gutex Thermofibre bio-based insulation can begin: from the machine set up on the street, the wood fibre flakes are blown up more than 16 meters with a hose....

The ceiling with the airtight, vapour-permeable Intello + foil is ready and the bio-based insulation is stacked up...

… All ducts, pipes and other things that cross the airtight layer are covered with special tape...

Under the leadership of Brightside, BVL is conducting a foundation survey. A total of 12 buildings dating from the period 1910-1920 will be examined for the technical condition of the wooden piles.

Brightside embraces Biobased construction and insulation: post-insulation of a building from 1920 with 190 mm biobased Gutex Thermoflex on the walls en 220 mm Thermofibre in the ceiling!

Design meeting with our structural engineer Fevzi Atceken about the final details of our 'passive house certified topping up’ (roof extension) in Rotterdam.

At the request of one of our most longstanding clients, Brightside is conducting feasibility studies for a multifunctional cinema complex in the capital city of the Netherlands.

In collaboration with our valued partner Juli Ontwerp, Brightside is working on a large-scale care building.

Brightside nears completion of the plans for a luxurious penthouse in Graaf Florisstraat, Rotterdam. The bio-based design offers a 360-degree view and follows Passive House™ principles. It's an architect's dream home for partner Maarten!

After a break related to the pandemic, work continues on the transformation of Stayokay's unique Bunnik hostel!

Firma230, our office building, is getting a makeover! Facades and roof are being renovated for new top-floor tenants. Know any inspiring ventures? Let us know! Soon, the new Firma230 will be unveiled. Goodbye scaffolds, hello new era!

In collaboration with Juli Ontwerp, Brightside pitched 160 care homes for Explorius in Apeldoorn. The design emphasizes social connections with layers of shared and private spaces. The pitch includes a virtual tour.

A new intern joins team Brightside! With his TU Delft bachelor's degree in the pocket, he starts his internship at Brightside as part of his master's program.

A new luxury villa now graces the dikes of Rotterdam. Thanks to the clients for their patience and to Best Bouw for their perseverance. The villa, a perfect family home, has been beautifully photographed inside and out. Say cheese!

Brightside welcomes our three new interns: Vivienne, Pieter & Guido, all students at the university of applied sciences Rotterdam.

It's time to revisit one of Brightside's first projects: Stayokay Rotterdam in the iconic cube houses. Originally transformed in 2009, the hostel now needs new floor plans and a refreshed lobby. We're honored to work on it again!

Already having finished construction at the start of this year and in full use by client Nasredin’s hardworking team,physiotherapy practice Amyon has finally been caught on camera.

Brightside has completed the preliminary design for the office of agriculture giant OLAM.

Our team has presented the preliminary design for the transformation of a large industrial hall for for De Klerk Binnenbouw (DKB).

Architecture website Architizer has selected Brightside as one of the top architecture firms in the Netherlands, ranking among renowned firms such as Cepezed, OMA and Kraaijvanger architects.

Team Brightside explored Paris with an offbeat itinerary by Sander, visiting brutalist architecture and the new 'Galerie Dior'. Biking through the city, they immersed themselves in Paris's soul.

For the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture, PA designed and produced a virtual exposition for the theme "1 Million Homes".

Brightside is designing and leading the transformation of the 'Westelijk Handelsterrein' in Rotterdam for Rotterdamsche Stenen and tenant Accor.

On Friday 9 September we went on an excursion with the entire team along a number of current projects in Rotterdam.

Brightside is participating in the AIR open office day! Come visit us coming Saturday, 25th of June, from 13:00 to 16:30. Be welcomed by our team to have a guided tour of our office.

In 2020, our Margrietstraat project in Rotterdam received the 'schildje' award from the Vereniging Stedenbouwkundig Wijkbehoud. The emblem, now permanently displayed on the façade of 'Op de Hill', honors exceptional building projects.

Last Thursday we had the honour of attending the pre-opening of the city park in Weert by alderman Martijn van den Heuvel and deputy of the province of Limburg, Geert Gabriels.

Recently both restaurants located on the street level of the Firma230 building have opened their doors!

Brightside has been commissioned to make an interior design for a striking penthouse in the New Orleans.

Brightside is designing a new hotel located on the Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam.

During the past few months Brightside has been working hard on the plans for a new building concept with facilities that are all about mental wellbeing.

Brightside is working on the plans for the transformation of 'the Colosseum', a former,well-known cinema in Rotterdam Zuid.

Restaurant Rotonde, located in firma230, is finalizing its eco-conscious concept. Owners Birk, Jord, and Roy are preparing to open soon.

The construction of the villa designed by Brightside, located on the Bergse Linker Rottekade, is progressing according to plan.

After over a year of construction, everyone involved can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The ambitious transformation of a century-old townhouse is almost done, and the results are stunning!

Maarten spoke to Architectenweb Podcast about using Virtual Reality (VR) at Brightside.

Firma230 is the new office building on Goudsesingel. It is an initiative of Sander and Maarten.

After a decade on Graaf Florisstraat, it was time for a change. Last year, we transformed Goudsesingel 230 into 'firma230'. Now, we've settled into the second floor.

Exciting news: We are going to work in the Rotterdam neighborhood Reyeroord! The area is one of five neighborhoods in Rotterdam selected to become gass-free by 2035.

Hooray! Being A Designer and Brightside have been selected for the open call New Housing Concepts for Homeless Youth of the Creative Industries Fund NL.

Akerpoort: Our biggest window yet

Hooray! Our colleague Merel can use the title “architect” from now on.

Brightside was present at the network event “Designing in Virtual Reality” organized by Architectenweb and Inbo.

VR is changing Brightside’s design game

We're joining the building frenzy in Rotterdam... Our development 'Op de Hill' is coming to life.

Solar hub of ‘Zon in de Stad’ is touring Rotterdam.

Check out our entry for the BNA Beste Gebouw van het Jaar! Great to see our project standing next to so many beautiful entries.

An article discussing the results of Weerbaar Weert appeared in the local newspaper De Limburger!

Grab a copy of Trouw this weekend to read on our project 'a careful reconstruction' through the eyes of our clients Daan & Thao.

We presented our project Weerbaar Weert to the minister and Rijksbouwmeester Alkemade and offered the minister a copy of our research.

This morning Jip Pijs was one of the chairmen of the Rotterdam children's climate tables.

Vision on the Park of Weert established unanimously

New project: luxurious villa on a dike

Architecture lessons at the Talmaschool in Rotterdam.

Maarten & Sander took part in the yearly Architectennetwerk (AN) Rotterdam excursion.

Two weeks ago on the ‘Dag van de Stad’ in Amersfoort, we presented two of our collaborative research projects: Weerbaar Weert and Zon in de Stad.

"Practice what you preach" - according to Maarten Polkamp. Read this interview by Architectenweb on the development branch of Brightside and our project OP DE HILL.

Elected as vice-president of the board of the BNA

Last week, we visited Heijkon Staalwerken to film the production of the steel for the tower at the Natuurpodium Brabantse Wal and Stayokay Bergen Op Zoom.

The sale of OP DE HILL is in full swing!

Brightside will present twice at 'Dag van de Stad' in Amersfoort!

Interview with Mayor Aboutaleb about solar panel.

On Tuesday the 4th of September at 20:00 the sales night of our project OP DE HILL takes place.

The past weeks, many neighbors placed their solar shields and now take part in Zon in de Stad. Great to see!

At the Rotterdamse Dakendagen Jip promoted one of our projects 'Zon in de Stad' at the info market.

A Glimpse of Spectacular Staircase Installation in The Hague.

Merel as teacher at the TU Delft

Jip Pijs and Sander van Schaik joined the members of the international council of the Van Alen Institute on their two-day design charette exploring different sites in Rotterdam Zuid.

Brightside contributes to IABR-Atelier Rotterdam.

The construction of the watchtower in Bergen op Zoom has officially started.

Brightside signs 'Rotterdamse Klimaatoproep'.

We are going circular!

Pitch and masterclass 'Weerbaar Weert'.

Team Brightside teaching for IMC weekendschool

Development of seven energy-efficient family homes.

Workshop 'Designing Social Initiatives' at Stayokay Bergen op Zoom.

Pitch fest at Expo Real in Munich.

Welcome Merel!

Presentation ‘Resilient Weert’.

Maarten Polkamp reelected to the board of the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects.

Laura and Matteo see their home for the first time in VR.

Shopping centre becomes 'energy hub'.