Common Affairs
Common Affairs is an Amsterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm specialising in circular, biobased, and timber construction, serving Dutch municipalities, real estate developers, and housing associations through project commissions and its proprietary CITYMAKER area development platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Common Affairs does
Common Affairs BV is a Dutch architecture and urban planning firm headquartered at KNSM-laan 75 in Amsterdam, founded in the early 2000s and led by architect partners Berend Hoffmann and Jos van Eldonk. The firm specialises in sustainable architecture, circular and biobased construction, urban densification, and area development, serving Dutch municipalities, real estate developers, housing associations, and a small private-individual segment on building and transformation projects spanning civic, retail, residential, mixed-use, and cultural programmes. Documented projects include municipal civic renovations such as Stadshuis Tilburg (BREEAM Excellent) and Stadshuis Zoetermeer, large masterplans at SugarCity Halfweg (108,000 m2), Plein 1944 Nijmegen (44,500 m2), and Centrumplan Oosterheem (19,025 m2, 392 apartments), plus an early international project at the New Energy Institute in Wuhan, China.
Common Affairs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Common Affairs
- Legal name
- Common Affairs BV
- Website
- https://commonaffairs.nl
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Common Affairs is an Amsterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm specialising in circular, biobased, and timber construction, serving Dutch municipalities, real estate developers, and housing associations through project commissions and its proprietary CITYMAKER area development platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Common Affairs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Architectural and Urban Planning Services
- NAICS
- Interior Design Services (54141), Interior Design Services (541410)
- SIC
- Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction (IMAFACAB)
Keywords
Where Common Affairs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Common Affairs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Architecture and Design Services: Common Affairs generates revenue through commissions for architectural design, urban planning, and interior design services on building and area development projects. Projects span new construction, transformation, and renovation across residential, retail, civic, and mixed-use programmes. Fees are typically project-based, negotiated directly with municipalities, housing corporations, and private developers.
- CITYMAKER Tool and Publications: The firm monetises its CITYMAKER methodology through the sale of handbooks, reference maps, and access to the digital calculation tool and Kaartenbak database. These support materials are offered to public and private sector clients engaged in area development planning.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Common Affairs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Common Affairs is an Amsterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm delivering sustainable, circular, and biobased design services for buildings and area development. Core offerings include architectural design, urban planning, interior design, and project supervision for civic, residential, retail, and mixed-use commissions, supported by the proprietary CITYMAKER interactive calculation methodology and modular timber construction products.
Product overview
Common Affairs is an architectural firm offering urban planning and architectural design services, with two distinct product/service pillars: (1) CITYMAKER suite of tools including the core interactive calculation program, CITYMAKER Retail, Kaartenbak database, VR Experience, Rekentool, Handboek, and Referentiekaarten for sustainable area development modeling; and (2) Housing concepts including BioBee-House for nature-inclusive sustainable housing and Houten Add-on's for rooftop extensions. The portfolio spans architecture, urban planning, research, and specialized tools for neighborhood development, retail transformation, and densification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CITYMAKER: An interactive calculation program for sustainable area development, including CITYMAKER Retail for retail transformation projects.
- BioBee-House
Products and services
- CITYMAKER Interactive calculation program for sustainable area development that enables spatial scenario modelling, bundling spatial, financial, parking, and sustainability parameters into a single tool so changes in one parameter are immediately reflected across others. Developed for municipal, developer, and housing corporation clients engaged in area development planning.
- CITYMAKER Retail Specialized CITYMAKER variant focused on retail transformation that enables rapid calculation of optimal mixes of housing and retail, addressing space usage, parking, sustainability, and finances for shopping centre redevelopment. Designed for use in workshops with stakeholders evaluating mixed-use conversions of shopping centres into residential-retail areas.
- CITYMAKER Handboek (Handbook) Handbook supporting the CITYMAKER methodology that visualises and clarifies the numerical output of the program, covering building blocks of area development and various design aspects of contemporary urban planning. Provided to public and private sector clients engaged in area development planning.
- BioBee-House Fully optimised sustainable housing concept constructed from wood, featuring nature-inclusive design with optimal biodiversity, biobased facades using Nabasco circular bio-composite tiles, integrated greenery, and energy-neutral performance through timber construction. Designed for factory assembly with favourable total cost of ownership for affordable starter housing.
- Houten Add-on's (Wooden Add-on Modules) Light wooden modular housing units developed in partnership with FiMek estate and Timbeco, enabling easy addition of housing on rooftops of existing buildings using HSB (houtskeletbouw / timber frame) construction. The system is adaptable to any plan, can achieve diverse appearances, and is designed for factory prefabrication and rapid on-site assembly.
- Architecture and Urban Design Services Full-service architectural design, urban planning, interior design, and project supervision services for new construction, transformation, and renovation projects across residential, retail, civic, cultural, and mixed-use programmes. Commissions are negotiated directly with municipalities, housing corporations, and private developers on a project basis.
Quantifiable outcome
- The Stadswinkel Tilburg is one of the first circular and biobased transformed office buildings in the Netherlands, with nearly all materials reused or from renewable sources.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Common Affairs
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Common Affairs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Common Affairs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FiMek estatecoreFiMek estate serves as developer partner for the 'Houten Add-on's' (Wooden Add-on's) system, collaborating with Common Affairs and Timbeco to develop lightweight timber modular housing units for installation on rooftops of existing buildings. This is a strategic co-development initiative targeting the Dutch housing shortage through densification.
- Timbeco Wood House OÜcoreTimbeco (Estonia) serves as the construction/manufacturing partner for the 'Houten Add-on's' system and the BioBee-House project. The company produces prefabricated HSB (timber frame) structural elements and modules in its factory, enabling precise, safe, and rapid on-site assembly.
- Buro LubbersminorBuro Lubbers collaborated with Common Affairs on the Plein 1944 Nijmegen project (2003-2014), contributing to the urban plan and architectural elaboration of the redevelopment of this post-war square.
- StadkwadraatcoreStadkwadraat co-developed the CITYMAKER methodology with Common Affairs and continues to develop new modules for the platform. Edwin Quartel of Stadkwadraat presented CITYMAKER updates at the online Citymaker meetup (October 2020). The partnership also produced CITYMAKER Retail.
- VannimwegenminorVannimwegen collaborated with Common Affairs and Stadkwadraat to develop an extension of the CITYMAKER method for interactive, visual exploration of densification potential in post-war neighbourhoods.
- XPEX Experience ExpertsminorXPEX Experience Experts collaborated on the development of the museum concept for Museum De Voorde in Zoetermeer, contributing to the exhibition and visitor experience design alongside Common Affairs' architectural work.
- DEDRIE architectenminorDEDRIE architecten worked closely with Common Affairs on the Stadhuis Tilburg renovation, handling the exterior architecture while Common Affairs designed the interior and furnishing. Collaboration in close consultation with specialists on young monuments.
- OTH architectenminorOTH architecten (exterior) collaborated with Common Affairs (interior) on the renovation of Stadhuis Zoetermeer. Common Affairs handled the interior design while OTH managed the exterior renovation.
- Amsterdam Economic BoardminorCommon Affairs is a signatory of the Green Deal Houtbouw (Wood Construction) covenant initiated by the Amsterdam Economic Board, which facilitates collaboration between businesses, knowledge institutions, and governments on the smart, green, and healthy future of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.
- SwecominorSweco is listed as the co-designer (alongside Jos van Eldonk) of the New Energy Institute in Wuhan, China. The project was a joint competition entry that won an international design competition against Arup, Zaha Hadid, and Mott MacDonald.
- Dura Vermeer & Gemeente ZoetermeerminorDura Vermeer acted as the contracting entity alongside Gemeente Zoetermeer for the renovation of Stadhuis Zoetermeer and the Museum De Voorde transformation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Common Affairs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Buro Lubbers: Dutch landscape architecture and urban planning firm. Already a collaborator with Common Affairs on the Plein 1944 Nijmegen project, Buro Lubbers operates in the same Dutch area-development space with similar municipal and developer clients, making it a directly comparable planning-focused peer.
- Mecanoo: Netherlands-based international architecture firm with strong urban planning, residential, and civic building practices. Comparable in serving Dutch municipalities, housing associations, and developers on mixed-use and cultural commissions, but with a much larger international footprint and staff.
- cepezed: Dutch architecture firm based in Delft with a deep focus on circular construction, demountable design, and industrial/adaptive reuse. Like Common Affairs, cepezed emphasises sustainable, biobased building methods and collaborates with municipalities and developers on transformation projects in the Netherlands.
- MVRDV: Dutch architecture firm headquartered in Rotterdam with a comparable focus on sustainable, expressive architecture and urban design. Both firms operate in the Dutch architectural market, work on mixed-use and residential commissions, and emphasise a strong design identity - though MVRDV is significantly larger and more internationally active.
- UNStudio: Amsterdam-based international architecture firm with a comparable Dutch-rooted identity and strong portfolio in mixed-use, residential, and urban development. Both firms share a Dutch base, design-led philosophy, and developer/municipal client base, though UNStudio is much larger and more internationally active.
- ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Dutch architecture and urbanism practice focused on area development, public space, and adaptive reuse. Comparable in addressing Dutch municipal urban development challenges with a research-driven, design-led approach, and competing for similar Dutch public-sector clients.
- VenhoevenCS: Dutch architecture and urbanism firm specialising in sustainable design, circular construction, and dense urban development. Highly comparable in service offering (sustainability-led architecture, urban densification) and customer base (Dutch municipalities, developers), making it a close direct peer in the Dutch market.
- Powerhouse Company: Rotterdam- and Amsterdam-based architecture firm with strong focus on sustainable, mixed-use, and residential design in the Netherlands and internationally. Comparable in developer client base (BAM, BPD, AM), typology focus, and emphasis on sustainable construction methods.
Broad incumbents
- Arcadis: Global design, engineering, and consultancy firm with a significant Dutch presence. Overlaps with Common Affairs in urban planning, area development, and sustainability advisory for municipalities and developers, but operates at much greater scale as part of a global portfolio.
- Sweco: Nordic-headquartered engineering, design, and consultancy firm with a large Dutch operation. Already a collaborator of Common Affairs on the Wuhan New Energy Institute, Sweco competes in the same municipal/developer space with a broader infrastructure, water, and engineering portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Common Affairs social profiles
Digital presenceCommon Affairs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Common Affairs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Common Affairs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Common Affairs 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 Common Affairs
What does Common Affairs do?
Common Affairs is an Amsterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm delivering sustainable, circular, and biobased design services for buildings and area development. Core offerings include architectural design, urban planning, interior design, and project supervision for civic, residential, retail, and mixed-use commissions, supported by the proprietary CITYMAKER interactive calculation methodology and modular timber construction products.
Is Common Affairs a public or private company?
Common Affairs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Common Affairs founded?
Common Affairs was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Common Affairs based?
Common Affairs is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Common Affairs make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Architecture and Design Services are the primary driver. The others are CITYMAKER Tool and Publications.
Who are Common Affairs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Buro Lubbers, Mecanoo, cepezed, MVRDV, UNStudio, ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles), VenhoevenCS and Powerhouse Company. Broad incumbents are Arcadis and Sweco.
Does Common Affairs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Common Affairs.
What industry is Common Affairs in?
Common Affairs's product category is Architectural and Urban Planning Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAO, Community Engagement & Participatory Planning, with a secondary code of IMAFACAB, Retail & Mixed-Use Commercial Construction. Its NAICS code is 54141 and its SIC code is 8711.