IMPAKT Architectuur was founded by Steven in 2024, and Barend soon joinedforces. With their office they focus on creating robust and sustainablearchitecture. The two first met while studying at Delft University ofTechnology and the idea of working together had always been in the back oftheir minds. It wasn’t until recently that the opportunity arose to start abusiness together. Combining Steven’s background in architecture with Barend’sexperience in real estate has a lot of advantages for clients. Steven andBarend make sustainable buildings feasible. “We go beyond the field of designand architecture and use our vast network of partners for sustainablearchitecture to actually get build”. Hence their moto: “We make IMPAKTtogether.”
Their aim is to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also reducethe negative impact buildings have on the environment, as both are parents ofyoung children. ‘’Buildings have a profound impact on how we live so we have abig responsibility in leaving behind a better world we inherited.’’
While the company currently consists of just the two of them, theycollaborate with partners across various specialties, such as sustainability,design, and engineering, to achieve the best possible results. Their goal is tobring the right teams together to find the best solution for each client and todeliver projects that are genuinely sustainable. They strive to go beyondsimply "ticking boxes" and instead aim to make a real, hands-onimpact. One of their core focuses is reducing the carbon footprint of theirprojects and shifting from a linear economy to a circular one—an approach theyapply across all their work.
Steven and Barend had known about Contact for years and had previouslycollaborated with former tenants before renting a studio of their own. Thespace offers everything they need to work, along with a strong sense ofcommunity, social areas to connect with others, and an atmosphere where eventheir dog feels welcome.
One of their current projects is a business campus near Limburg, in thesouth of the Netherlands, where they are reusing an existing steel structure tobuild something new. A huge reduction in CO2 footprint of the project and apilot project to learn from. They are also working on the acquisition of aprimary school (IKC) and actively expanding their network, learning from othersin the field as they continue to grow as a young company.
A standout project for Barend was an interior renovation that made peoplefeel instantly at home upon entering. For him, architecture should help anyonefeel comfortable and welcome in a space. For Steven, a memorable project wasthe transformation of Forteiland Pampus, a UNESCO World Heritage site nearMuiden that serves as a museum and event location. Ten years ago, the islandrelied entirely on diesel for power. With the help of a dedicated team, ittransitioned to running fossil-free, powered by wind turbines, solar energy,and hydrogen storage, making it completely off-grid. Today, food is even grownand harvested on-site for the island’s restaurant. Projects like thesedemonstrate what’s possible when everyone works toward the same goal.
Making a meaningful impact is possible, especially with a strong teamaround you.
