aNNo Architects
aNNo Architects is a Belgian heritage architecture firm in Ghent, specializing in restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse of historic monuments for municipalities, heritage agencies, non-profits, and private clients across Flanders.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersGhent, Belgium
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What aNNo Architects does
aNNo Architects (legal entity: aNNo architecten bv) is a Belgian heritage architecture firm founded in 2011, headquartered in Ghent at the coworking space De Ontwerppoel (which it co-founded), with a team of approximately 27 architects and interior architects. The firm specializes in the restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse of historic monuments, including monasteries, castles, town halls, civic buildings, and military heritage sites, serving a client mix of Flemish municipalities, provincial and federal heritage agencies, non-profit heritage organizations, social housing providers, and private corporate clients (e.g., SAS Institute, Herita, Stichting Kempens Landschap, OCMW Antwerpen, Sogent, and Stad Leuven).
The firm's core technical differentiators are codified proprietary methodologies: 'Deep Site Learning' (ontwerpend onderzoek), which uses the biography and memory of a place as the primary design catalyst; 'Design by Reference', where new interventions are derived from historical architectural vocabulary; and the 'Quadrant Model' for monastery and abbey adaptive reuse, a theoretical framework organized around spirituality, craftsmanship, care, and reception that has been applied across multiple religious-heritage projects. aNNo partners with academic institutions (KU Leuven REVALUE research partnership) and competing or collaborating firms (Atelier Kempe Thill, FELT architecture, SUM Project, BARO Architectuur) to deliver concepthouder roles on large public adaptive reuse projects such as Wintercircus Mahy and Stadhuis Leuven.
The business model is professional services, billed at hourly rates indexed annually per the consumer price index, with research costs and specialist sub-consultant fees (structural engineering, MEP, acoustics, EPB) passed through. Go-to-market is dual-channel: public architectural competition entries for government and B2G mandates, and direct client engagement for private heritage and corporate projects. Reputation is built through portfolio website, organic social media, editorial coverage in architectural press, and a sustained program of academic lectures and conference presentations. The partnership with Atelier Kempe Thill (since 2012) and recurring awards (Europa Nostra 2022 and 2023, Jo Crepain 2025, Mies van der Rohe nomination 2026) indicate a focused growth strategy anchored in flagship-project visibility rather than headcount expansion.
aNNo Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- aNNo Architects
- Legal name
- aNNo architecten bv
- Website
- https://annoarchitecten.be
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- aNNo Architects is a Belgian heritage architecture firm in Ghent, specializing in restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse of historic monuments for municipalities, heritage agencies, non-profits, and private clients across Flanders.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
aNNo Architects industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Architecture Services
- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141), Residential Remodelers (236118)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH), Historic Home Renovation & Preservation (HSAPAEAG), Architectural Reconfiguration & Structural Alterations (HSAPAEAB)
Keywords
Where aNNo Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ghent
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
aNNo Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Architectural Services - Hourly Billing: Professional architectural services billed at hourly rates determined by the experience and knowledge of assigned team members. Rates are indexed annually according to the consumer price index. Research costs (archive, cadastre) and specialist fees (engineering) are passed through to clients.
- Heritage Research and Advisory: Heritage studies, building historical research (bouwhistorisch onderzoek), feasibility studies, master plans, and management plans for monuments and cultural heritage sites. Often integrated with design services and supported by heritage agency coordination.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional architectural services - hourly billing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
aNNo Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
aNNo Architects provides professional architectural services focused on heritage restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse of protected historic buildings including monasteries, castles, town halls, civic monuments, and military heritage sites. The firm delivers end-to-end project execution from feasibility studies and building historical research through design, conservation, and construction supervision, coordinating interdisciplinary specialists (structural engineering, MEP, acoustics, EPB). Services are billed hourly, indexed annually to the consumer price index, and supplemented by heritage research and advisory work.
Product overview
aNNo Architects operates as a unified architecture practice offering heritage restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse services. The core offering centers on heritage restoration projects, supplemented by renovation and repurposing (herbestemming) services. In-house interior architecture, feasibility studies, and heritage management planning function as integrated modules within their project delivery. The firm employs a proprietary 'design by reference' methodology and has developed the 'quadrant model' for monastery/abbey repurposing projects as a specialized research framework. The portfolio spans residential, cultural, educational, and hospitality heritage projects across Belgium.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Batterij Aachen won the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Award 2022 in 'Conservation and Adaptive Reuse' and the Built environment Cabe Refurbishment Award.
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use aNNo Architects
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
aNNo Architects technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
aNNo Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, regular and project-based.
- Atelier Kempe ThillcoreaNNo and Atelier Kempe Thill acted as 'concepthouders' (concept holders) for the Wintercircus Mahy adaptive reuse project in Gent — winning a competitive tender from Sogent. They jointly developed the design approach of 'minimal impact, maximum authenticity.' Atelier Kempe Thill was also the winning partner (with aNNo) for the Hogere Zeevaartschool competition in Antwerp. The partnership represents a core strategic alliance for public competition entries.
- SUM Project and BARO ArchitectuursupportingSUM Project and BARO Architectuur supported aNNo and Atelier Kempe Thill during the execution phase of the Wintercircus project, assisting with the implementation of the concepthouder concept on site.
- ExponanzaregularExponanza is the scenography and museum design partner for multiple aNNo projects including Batterij Aachen (WWI bunker experience, Manschappen sleeping quarters interpretation, soundscape design with seven emotions) and the Groen Geruite Huis interior. Responsible for digital interpretation, museum installations, and exhibition design.
- SAS InternationalcoreSAS International was the client and strategic partner for the Kasteel de Robiano restoration and office integration project in Tervuren. aNNo developed a masterplan for the entire castle and grounds in close consultation with SAS facility management and management.
- Bart van Wetter (architect)project-basedArchitect Bart van Wetter collaborated with aNNo on the Pastorie van Balegem B&B project, managing the balance between heritage requirements, client wishes, and regulatory approvals (heritage consultant, fire service, urban planning).
- FELT architecture & designcoreFELT architecture & design was the winning competition partner for the Stadhuis van Leuven transformation, collaborating with aNNo to create an 'open house' design with a new corps de garde, accessible entry, and viewing platform. aNNo and FELT jointly won the competition with Leo Van Broeck (Vlaams Bouwmeester) endorsement.
- Studio Romaproject-basedStudio Roma is a renowned restoration firm that collaborated with aNNo on the Begijnhof Lier project, providing technical restoration expertise for the 7 heritage houses.
- Crispijn Van SasregularCrispijn Van Sas has photographed multiple aNNo projects including Boerhaave (apothekerswoning), Klooster Broeders van Liefde, and Pastorie van Balegem. His photography is credited on project pages.
- Lily van der Stokker (artist)project-basedDutch artist Lily van der Stokker created the artistic facade painting for the Groen Geruite Huis (Villa Bastien), inspired by WWI dazzle camouflage techniques, commissioned through Beaufort kunstparcours. The artwork transforms the building into a landmark 'Groen Geruite Huis.'
- KU Leuven (REVALUE research partnership)coreaNNo architecten partners with KU Leuven's Departement Architectuur on practical-academic research project REVALUE (2021-2024), investigating new architectural perspectives for heritage projects. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Thomas Coomans. This partnership bridges practice and academia to advance heritage architecture methodology.
- Make Me (visualizations)regularMake Me created visualizations for the Stadhuis van Leuven competition entry and the Klooster Broeders van Liefde project, used in competition submissions and public presentations.
- Nuvillu (visualizations)project-basedNuvillu created visualizations for the Brandweerkazerne Antwerpen adaptive reuse project, showing the transformation of the Art Nouveau/Art Deco fire station into a green mixed-use building.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
aNNo Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Roma: Belgian restoration firm specializing in technical heritage conservation and craft-based restoration. Direct peer as a restoration specialist; aNNo has partnered with Studio Roma on the Begijnhof Lier heritage houses, confirming overlapping client and methodology space.
- Atelier Kempe Thill: Dutch/Belgian architecture practice known for restrained, context-driven public architecture and adaptive reuse. Direct peer given joint concepthouder roles with aNNo on Wintercircus Gent and shared competition entries, and the closest comparable in terms of heritage-sensitive civic commissions.
- noAarchitecten: Belgian architecture office combining heritage renovation, residential, and adaptive reuse. Direct peer sharing the Belgian mid-sized practice profile, similar client segments (private residential and public heritage), and comparable approach to conservation-first design.
- agwA: Brussels-based architecture practice recognized for heritage and ecclesiastical adaptive reuse, including monastery and convent conversions. Direct peer with strong overlap in religious-heritage repositioning — the same niche aNNo's Quadrant Model addresses.
- Origin Architecture: Belgian architecture firm specializing in heritage-sensitive renovation, adaptive reuse, and contextual design. Direct peer with overlapping expertise in restoration of protected monuments and similar target clients in the Flemish public and heritage market.
- FELT architecture & design: Belgian architecture and design studio working across heritage and contemporary civic projects. Direct peer as aNNo's joint competition partner on Stadhuis Leuven and as a fellow Flemish practice competing for heritage-sensitive public commissions.
Broad incumbents
- Bovenbouw Architectuur: Antwerp-based architecture office active in heritage-sensitive urban housing, renovation, and civic projects. Broad incumbent with comparable Flemish geographic focus and similar project typologies (renovation, adaptive reuse, public housing).
- Witherford Watson Mann Architects: UK practice renowned for award-winning heritage conservation and contextual civic architecture, including Astley Castle (Europa Nostra winner). Comparable as a European peer in conservation-first restoration and adaptive reuse at the highest award level.
- Robbrecht en Daem: Established Ghent-based architecture practice with a long track record in monumental heritage, cultural, and civic projects across Belgium. Broad incumbent in the same Flemish heritage market with significantly greater scale and a longer award history.
Emerging players
- Caruso St John: London/European practice with strong reputation in heritage-sensitive adaptive reuse and award-winning civic and cultural projects. Comparable as a European peer operating in the same niche of thoughtful, conservation-led restoration and adaptive reuse at premium fee levels.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
aNNo Architects social profiles
Digital presenceaNNo Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
aNNo Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
aNNo Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
aNNo Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about aNNo Architects
What does aNNo Architects do?
aNNo Architects provides professional architectural services focused on heritage restoration, renovation, and adaptive reuse of protected historic buildings including monasteries, castles, town halls, civic monuments, and military heritage sites. The firm delivers end-to-end project execution from feasibility studies and building historical research through design, conservation, and construction supervision, coordinating interdisciplinary specialists (structural engineering, MEP, acoustics, EPB). Services are billed hourly, indexed annually to the consumer price index, and supplemented by heritage research and advisory work.
Is aNNo Architects a public or private company?
aNNo Architects is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was aNNo Architects founded?
aNNo Architects was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is aNNo Architects based?
aNNo Architects is headquartered in Ghent, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does aNNo Architects make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architectural Services - Hourly Billing is the primary driver. The others are heritage Research and Advisory.
Who are aNNo Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Roma, Atelier Kempe Thill, noAarchitecten, agwA, Origin Architecture and FELT architecture & design. Broad incumbents are Bovenbouw Architectuur, Witherford Watson Mann Architects and Robbrecht en Daem. Caruso St John is listed as an emerging player.
Does aNNo Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for aNNo Architects.
What industry is aNNo Architects in?
aNNo Architects's product category is Heritage Architecture Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 8700.