BURA

Urban Planning Servicesbura.city

BURA is an Amsterdam-based urbanism and landscape architecture firm delivering research-by-design masterplans, area visions, and mobility strategies for Dutch municipalities, provincial governments, and real-estate landowner collectives across more than 20 Dutch cities.

Company typePrivate
Founded2014
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Headcount11–50
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What BURA does

BURA is an Amsterdam-based urbanism and landscape architecture firm, formerly operating as marco.broekman before rebranding to BURA between 2020 and 2022. The firm delivers professional services across urban planning, landscape architecture, mobility planning, area vision development, image quality plans, and strategic spatial guidelines for Dutch municipalities, provincial governments, and real-estate landowner collectives. Its core methodology is "research-by-design" (ontwerpend onderzoek), an investigative design approach that combines spatial, financial, and organizational analysis with creative design output to address complex urban transformation challenges.

BURA's technical stack centers on GIS, data analysis, parametric design, and calculation-and-drawing programs used to visualize and communicate urban development opportunities. Service delivery emphasizes participatory design processes and multi-stakeholder engagement, with the firm frequently leading consortiums alongside specialized partners such as LOLA Landscape Architects, Stadkwadraat/Stad2, Goudappel Coffeng, BRIGHT Cooperative, and Flux Landscape Architecture. Landmark commissions include Merwede Utrecht (6,000-home car-free district, construction started March 2025), Rijnpark Arnhem (7,000 homes, 5,000 jobs), Binckhorst The Hague (130-hectare transformation, 7,500 new homes), and Almere Pampus masterplan (25,000–35,000 homes).

BURA generates revenue exclusively through professional services commissions won via Dutch public-sector competitive tenders, framework agreements with government bodies, and direct commissions from landowner collectives. There is no disclosed standardized pricing; fees are project-based and tied to scope. The firm markets itself through its project portfolio on bura.city, BURATALKS events, symposia and public speaking, podcast appearances, and research publications including the Post-Growth City book and Low Carbon Urbanism study. It is a private limited company (BV) domiciled in the Netherlands with no disclosed parent company, investors, or funding rounds.

BURA firmographics

Firmographics

Name: BURA
Legal name: BURA
Website: https://bura.city
Company type: Private
Founded year: 2014
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 11–50 employees
Short description: BURA is an Amsterdam-based urbanism and landscape architecture firm delivering research-by-design masterplans, area visions, and mobility strategies for Dutch municipalities, provincial governments, and real-estate landowner collectives across more than 20 Dutch cities.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

BURA industry classification

Industry

Product category: Urban Planning Services
NAICS: Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Landscape Architectural Services (541320)
SIC: Non-Operating Establishments (9995)
akta.pro primary industry: Regional & Land Use Planning (BPAHAKAE)
akta.pro secondary industry: Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

Urban planning services
Landscape architecture
Area vision development
Spatial design research
Mobility planning

Where BURA is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Amsterdam
HQ country: Netherlands
HQ region: Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

BURA business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

Urban Planning and Design Services: Professional services revenue generated through commissions for urban plans, masterplans, area visions, and spatial quality frameworks for municipalities, developers, and government bodies. Projects are typically won through competitive tender processes.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

BURA product offering

Product offering

Core offering

BURA is a Dutch urban planning and landscape architecture firm that provides professional services including urban plans, masterplans, area visions, image quality plans, and mobility strategies for municipalities, provincial governments, and real estate developers. The firm employs a research-by-design methodology, combining spatial design with investigative analysis using GIS, data, parametric design, and computational drawing tools to address complex urban transformation challenges.

Product overview

BURA is an urbanism and landscape architecture firm offering integrated spatial design services. The firm specializes in sustainable urban development, combining urban planning, landscape architecture, and research-by-design methodologies. Their service portfolio includes area vision development, mobility planning, image quality plans, and strategic guidelines for urban transformation. BURA works on complex projects spanning urban districts (such as Merwede in Utrecht), metropolitan landscape parks (South Holland), mobility hubs, and high-rise development strategies. The firm operates as a consultancy rather than a software product company, delivering professional services through collaborative design processes with public and private clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

Urban Planning Services Comprehensive urban planning services for municipalities and developers, including masterplanning, urban visions, and strategic guidelines for sustainable urban environments and area development.
Landscape Architecture Landscape design and metropolitan landscape park development for urban regions, including green-blue network planning, urban greening, and nature-inclusive design.
Research-by-Design Design-driven research methodology combining spatial analysis with visual exploration to address complex societal and ecological challenges in urban areas; the firm's signature approach.
Mobility Planning Mobility vision development and transportation planning services, including car-free urban districts, sustainable mobility systems, and multi-modal transportation hubs.
Area Vision Development Strategic area vision development for urban transformation, including participatory processes with stakeholders and long-term urban development frameworks.
Image Quality Plans Quality frameworks establishing design guidelines and visual standards for urban development projects to ensure spatial coherence and aesthetic quality.

Quantifiable outcome

Merwede project: 6,000 homes, 12,000 residents, 24-hectare car-free district, largest underground thermal storage facility in Netherlands
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use BURA

Customer profile

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

BURA technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

BURA partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regular and minor.

Coalitie Ruimte voor WerkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2024BURA joined as a coalition partner within the Coalition Space for Work (Coalitie Ruimte voor Werk), contributing spatial knowledge to the multidisciplinary team. The coalition focuses on ensuring sufficient affordable space for work in cities, and BURA enriches it through spatial design and research expertise in urban economics, mixed-use area development, sustainability, and densification of business parks.
StadkwadraatcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2018Stadkwadraat is a long-standing collaboration partner in numerous projects, including MetroMix (with CRa), Europapark Groningen, Binckhorst development, Rijnpark Arnhem, and various other urban development initiatives. They bring expertise in real estate economics and development strategy.
LOLA Landscape ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2016LOLA Landscape Architects collaborates with BURA on major projects including Merwede in Utrecht (from 2022), and Stationsgebied Haarlem. They provide landscape architecture expertise for urban transformation projects.
Goudappel CoffengregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGoudappel Coffeng provides mobility expertise for projects including Merwede, Mobiliteitsvisie Zaanstad, and Stationsgebied Haarlem. They specialize in sustainable mobility planning and transportation consulting.
De Zwarte HondregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerDe Zwarte Hond (ateliermeester Daan Zandbelt) collaborated as master maker in the IABR-Projectatelier Rotterdam 2016, alongside L'AUC and BURA, working on the maker economy of the Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan region.
L'AUCregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench bureau L'AUC collaborated with BURA and De Zwarte Hond on the IABR Projectatelier Rotterdam 2016 research project.
Stec GroepregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStec Groep collaborated with BURA on the Rijnpark Arnhem project and Corpus den Hoorn-Zuid spatial vision document, providing economic and real estate advisory services.
Flux Landscape ArchitecturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFlux landscape architecture is part of the consortium working with BURA on the Binckhorst development strategy for The Hague, providing landscape architecture expertise.
De Mannen van SchuimregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDe Mannen van Schuim provides participation expertise for the Binckhorst development project, facilitating community engagement processes.
APPMregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAPPM provides process management for the Binckhorst project and collaborated on Gebiedsagenda ZO Assen, offering management consulting services.
PartnersROregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnersRO provides legal expertise for the Binckhorst development project, offering juridical advisory services.
Ministerie van Infrastructuur en WaterstaatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinistry of Infrastructure and Water Management, through Rijkswaterstaat WVL, commissioned the Mobiliteitsbeweging project where BURA contributed a short film visualizing mobility transition pathways.
BRIGHT CooperativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBRIGHT Cooperative is a key partner in Team PAMPUS* for Almere Pampus masterplan development, and collaborated on NOVEX research-by-design and Post-Growth City initiatives. They bring expertise in transition tasks, design research, and spatial strategy.
Polyfern Landscape ArchitectscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPart of Team PAMPUS* for Almere Pampus, providing landscape architecture expertise including design of wetland structures with nature-based solutions.
Crimson Historians & UrbanistscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCrimson Historians & Urbanists collaborated with BURA on the Post-Growth City research-by-design project, providing historical perspective and urban analysis. The initiative explores spatial concepts for a more sustainable and just city.
NRP-netwerkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBURA is a partner at NRP-netwerk, a network organization for residential and area development professionals in the Netherlands.
Stad2 (formerly Stadkwadraat)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStad2 (feasibility and development strategy) partnered with BURA on the Isaac Baartkwartier vision in Zaanstad, providing economic feasibility and development strategy expertise.
Vereniging DeltametropoolregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerVereniging Deltametropool collaborated on the Metropolitan Landscape Park South Holland study and NOVEX research-by-design project, serving as the lead organization for the publication.
LEVS ArchitectenregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEVS Architecten collaborated with BURA and Urban Climate Architects on the Low Carbon Urbanism publication, exploring the CO2 impact of design choices in urban development.
Urban Climate ArchitectsregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Climate Architects collaborated with BURA and LEVS on the Low Carbon Urbanism publication, focusing on climate-responsive urban design.
AMS InstituteregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMS Institute collaborated with BURA and And The People on the Postgroei Marineterrein research project exploring cooperative area development at the Marineterrein in Amsterdam.
And The PeopleregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnd The People collaborated with BURA and AMS Institute on the Postgroei Marineterrein research project, contributing expertise in cooperative area development.
De UrbanistencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDe Urbanisten is a landscape architecture partner for Schiehaven Noord project in Rotterdam and Rijnpark Arnhem, providing public space and landscape design expertise.
De UrbanistencoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDe Urbanisten partnered with BURA and Stadkwadraat for the Galileipark-M4H urban plan in Rotterdam, providing landscape architecture services.
KickstadregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKickstad collaborated on Hembrug project walk-in evening, organizing participatory events and community engagement for urban development projects.
MORE ArchitectureregularImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMORE Architecture collaborated with BURA on IJplein Action Plan Public Space in Amsterdam and Hoogbouwnota Roermond, providing architectural expertise.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

BURA competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

KCAP: KCAP Architects & Planners is a Dutch firm specializing in urban strategies and area transformations. Closely comparable to BURA in delivering urban visions, masterplans, and mixed-use district planning for public and private clients.
West 8: West 8 is a leading Dutch urban design and landscape architecture firm. Comparable to BURA in landscape architecture, public space design, and large-scale urban planning, but with a stronger international reputation and portfolio.
LOLA Landscape Architects: LOLA is a Dutch landscape architecture firm collaborating with BURA on flagship projects like Merwede Utrecht. Directly comparable in landscape architecture and urban greening services for major Dutch transformations.
Flux Landscape Architecture: Flux is a Dutch landscape architecture firm in BURA's Binckhorst consortium. Comparable in landscape architecture scope, though operating in adjacent rather than competing roles on shared projects.
De Zwarte Hond: De Zwarte Hond is a Dutch architecture and urban planning firm that co-led the IABR Projectatelier Rotterdam with BURA. Highly comparable in scale and focus on Dutch urban transformation, area visions, and masterplanning for municipalities.
H+N+S Landscape Architects: H+N+S is a Dutch landscape architecture firm with strong expertise in sustainable and climate-adaptive landscape design. Comparable to BURA on nature-inclusive design and metropolitan landscape park planning.
De Urbanisten: De Urbanisten is a Dutch urban planning and landscape firm partnering with BURA on Schiehaven Noord, Rijnpark, and Galileipark. Comparable in urban planning and landscape design for Dutch municipalities.

Broad incumbents

MVRDV: MVRDV is a major Rotterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm working on large-scale Dutch and international mixed-use urban projects. Directly comparable to BURA in urban planning services, but operates at significantly larger scale with broader international footprint.
OMA: OMA is a leading international architecture and urban planning firm with a strong Dutch practice. Comparable to BURA on urban masterplanning and large-scale district visions, though OMA operates across many geographies and building typologies.

Emerging players

Stec Groep: Stec Groep is a Dutch real estate and economic advisory firm collaborating with BURA on Rijnpark Arnhem. Comparable as a Dutch planning ecosystem participant, though focused on economic/feasibility advisory rather than spatial design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

BURA financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

BURA leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

BURA funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

BURA M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BURA

What does BURA do?

Is BURA a public or private company?

BURA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.

When was BURA founded?

BURA was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.

Where is BURA based?

BURA is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.

How does BURA make money?

One revenue line is on record: urban Planning and Design Services.

Who are BURA's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are KCAP, West 8, LOLA Landscape Architects, Flux Landscape Architecture, De Zwarte Hond, H+N+S Landscape Architects and De Urbanisten. Broad incumbents are MVRDV and OMA. Stec Groep is listed as an emerging player.

Does BURA have an API?

No public API is recorded for BURA.

What industry is BURA in?

BURA's product category is Urban Planning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAE, Regional & Land Use Planning, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 54132 and its SIC code is 9995.