Our mission: Warm Urban Places for People
The mission of JVST is to realize warm urban places for people. Therefore, JVST designs characteristic projects in the urban landscape that stand out through smart and clear spatial concepts, a playful and recognizable architectural language and careful attention to the human scale. From large scale vision to residential building, every project starts and ends with the experience of the user. This requires an integral way of working, where urban design, architecture and landscape come together.
JVST’s projects distinguish themselves by their friendly and strong architectural language – often the outcome of a close integration of context, urban design, human needs and scale. The end results are vibrant environments that fit into their surroundings and add lasting value. Our largest built project, Little C at the Coolhaven in Rotterdam is widely praised as a mid-rise high-density project, exemplary for dense yet friendly and human-centered development.
JVST’s projects distinguish themselves by their friendly and strong architectural language – often the outcome of a close integration of context, urban design, human needs and scale. The end results are vibrant environments that fit into their surroundings and add lasting value. Our largest built project, Little C at the Coolhaven in Rotterdam is widely praised as a mid-rise high-density project, exemplary for dense yet friendly and human-centered development.
© Riccardo de Vecchi
© Rubén Dario Kleimeer
© Juurlink+Geluk
© Annet Delfgaauw
© René de Wit
What we do: Reinforcing cities and communities
JVST works on both architectural and urban-scale projects. Our portfolio ranges from inner-city neighborhoods to large-scale urban visions, with program varying from housing to cultural buildings, mostly for professional clients. We have experience with complex, multidisciplinary projects and processes both at home and abroad.
Most of our work context is urban, as we believe that inner-city densification adds quality to the city. Our projects stitch archetypal urban fabric structures and provide a clear identity and sense of place. They set the stage for urban activity and invite users to feel, play and live. Our design attitude makes the familiar special and the everyday extraordinary.
Whether it concerns an urban ensemble or the transformation of a library, community is the central design principle. We design spaces for their users: people should feel safe and welcome. A sense of community is crucial to this – especially in an increasingly more individualized society – which is why we design spaces to meet and gather.
Most of our work context is urban, as we believe that inner-city densification adds quality to the city. Our projects stitch archetypal urban fabric structures and provide a clear identity and sense of place. They set the stage for urban activity and invite users to feel, play and live. Our design attitude makes the familiar special and the everyday extraordinary.
Whether it concerns an urban ensemble or the transformation of a library, community is the central design principle. We design spaces for their users: people should feel safe and welcome. A sense of community is crucial to this – especially in an increasingly more individualized society – which is why we design spaces to meet and gather.
How we work: Professional Playground
Designing is what we love to do and we believe that a professional and playful mindset go hand in hand. That’s why we like to call our office a Professional Playground. For every question, we explore various design options in order to surprise ourselves and to have meaningful discussions, both internally and externally. Everyone in the office gets involved in the design process.
We look for engaging ways to tell a project’s story. Urbanism and architecture are physical manifestations in a rapidly digitizing world. We have developed a way of working with a lot of attention for analogue techniques and communication: we discuss projects with the help of moodboards and panels. One of our most important design and communication tools is the physical model. Next to this, analysis, engagement and participation are embedded in our design process to come up with integral solutions.
We look for engaging ways to tell a project’s story. Urbanism and architecture are physical manifestations in a rapidly digitizing world. We have developed a way of working with a lot of attention for analogue techniques and communication: we discuss projects with the help of moodboards and panels. One of our most important design and communication tools is the physical model. Next to this, analysis, engagement and participation are embedded in our design process to come up with integral solutions.
© Arianne Fleege
© Arianne Fleege
© Arianne Fleege
© Arianne Fleege
© Hannah Anthonysz
© Arianne Fleege
Who we are: Our team
JVST is a Rotterdam-based firm founded in 2011 by Jaakko van ’t Spijker. Since 2021, associate partners Ilse Janmaat and Madeleine Mans have joined the management team. With a team of approximately 15 enthusiastic designers, we collaborate on a wide range of projects primarily in the Netherlands and Iceland.
Our firm is a creative, constructive and goal-oriented partner. Collaboration is a core value for us. We work with integrity and inclusive processes where everyone feels heard. We come up with solutions that benefit all parties involved.
Our firm is a creative, constructive and goal-oriented partner. Collaboration is a core value for us. We work with integrity and inclusive processes where everyone feels heard. We come up with solutions that benefit all parties involved.