What Space Encounters does

Space Encounters is an Amsterdam-based architecture firm founded in 2014 by brothers Gijs Baks and Joost Baks, operating as Space Encounters BV under Dutch Chamber of Commerce registration 66392683. The firm provides architectural design services across residential, office, public, urban, and transformation typologies, with a portfolio of more than 50 documented projects primarily in the Netherlands and selectively in Switzerland (Siedlung Holliger, Bern), Germany (Designplus Pavilion, Düsseldorf), Norway (Cliffhanger, Preikestolen), and Italy (Transito installation, Milan). The team of approximately 13 people includes founding partners, an associate, project leaders, architects, junior architects, and finance/HR support. There is no disclosed software platform or proprietary technology stack; the offering is human-judgment-led bespoke architectural design.

The firm acquires work primarily through architecture competitions, developer tenders (ontwikkeltender), and architect selections (architectenselectie), supplemented by direct commissions from developers and government clients. Documented first-prize competition wins include Zuiderlicht, Ceci, and Nachteiland. Client logos span real estate developers (VORM, Edge Technologies, Synchroon, Schipper Bosch, Edwin Oostmeijer Ontwikkeling), corporate occupiers (Sony Music, JOOLZ, Sid Lee, First Day of Spring/MILK Design, Clink Hostels), central and local government (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, Natuurmonumenten), and private residential clients (70 households in the Houthavens CPO). As a secondary product line, the firm launched the Boring Collection in 2016 — a line of archetypical office furniture finished in 'Boring Grey' that won the Milan Design Award.

The business operates on a project-based professional services fee model with no public pricing disclosure. Revenue mechanics are derived from competition prize fees, tender commissions, and direct client project agreements, with fees negotiated per project. The firm is entirely founder-owned with no evidence of external investors, parent companies, or PE/VC involvement, and is registered as a private limited company under Dutch law. The firm has accumulated over 15 major industry awards and consistent coverage in leading architecture publications (Wallpaper*, Domus, Frame, Monocle, de Architect, DETAIL, MARK Magazine, A10).

Name

Space Encounters

Legal name

Space Encounters BV

Website

https://space-encounters.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amsterdam-based Space Encounters is an architecture firm designing residential, office, public, urban, and transformation projects across the Netherlands and selectively in Switzerland, Germany, Norway, and Italy. Founded in 2014 by brothers Gijs and Joost Baks, the firm serves developers, corporate clients, government agencies, and private individuals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Design Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Interior Design Services (54141)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Space Planning & Workplace Design (BPAHAKAI)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Residential architecture
• Office building design
• Urban development planning
• Building transformation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Architectural design and project services: Space Encounters generates revenue by providing architectural design services for residential, office, public, urban, and transformation projects. Revenue is project-based, sourced through competition wins, tender commissions, architect selections, and direct client engagements with developers, housing associations, government agencies, and private clients. The firm is registered as Space Encounters BV under Dutch Chamber of Commerce number 66392683.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Space Encounters provides professional architectural design services spanning residential, office, public, urban, and building transformation projects, delivering concept-to-execution design across all building scales. Projects are acquired primarily through winning architecture competitions, developer tenders (ontwikkeltender), architect selections, and direct commissions from developers, government agencies, housing associations, and private clients. The firm also designs and markets the Boring Collection, a proprietary line of archetypical office furniture used in their projects.

Product overview

Space Encounters is an architecture firm offering design services across residential, office, public, and urban building projects. As a complementary product line, they designed the Boring Collection, a furniture collection for office interiors featuring archetypical pieces in a discreet grey finish. Their architectural projects include award-winning office transformations (JOOLZ HQ, Sid Lee Office, Sony Music), residential developments (The Doors, Houthavens CPO, De Gieter & De Slijper), public buildings (ClinkNOORD Hostel, Healthcare Center Buiksloterham), and urban designs (Kenniskwartier 2A, Shift). The firm's core offering is architectural design services spanning from concept to execution across all building scales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Winner of over 15 major architecture and design awards including BNA Building of the Year, Architectenweb Office Building of the Year, World Architecture Festival awards, Milan Design Award, and multiple competition first prizes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and regulatory.

• Children of the LightminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Space Encounters collaborated with Amsterdam visual art duo Children of the Light to create Transito — a spatial and light-art installation first shown at Salone del Mobile 2018 in Milan and later at De School Amsterdam.
• BURA (Bureau architectenregister)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Space Encounters organised an expert meeting on post-war housing neighbourhoods together with BURA in November 2023.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Space Encounters collaborated with ZUS on the Go West project in Rotterdam (2021), winning the Stadsbouwprijs Amersfoort 2020 together with Schipper Bosch. ZUS is a Rotterdam-based architecture office.
• Frischi Beis Architektur (Bern)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Space Encounters won first prize in architectenselectie Bern (Switzerland) in collaboration with Frischi Beis Architektur for the Siedlung Holliger project — innovative family housing of 4,400 m².
• Paul de Ruiter ArchitectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Space Encounters partnered with Paul de Ruiter Architects for the Aziepark Towers competition in Haarlem (7,200 m²), along with DS Landschapsarchitecten. The project features two residential towers in a lush park setting.
• Powerhouse Company and SO-ILmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Space Encounters participated in the Ontwikkeltender Kenniskwartier Zuidas competition in collaboration with Powerhouse Company and SO-IL, reaching the final round for the Kenniskwartier 2A project (57,150 m²) ultimately awarded to EDGE Technologies.
• OZ, Workshop Architects, BETA (Oostenburg consortium)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Space Encounters was part of a consortium with OZ, Workshop Architects, and BETA for the De Gieter & De Slijper housing complex (3,600 m²) on Oostenburg island in Amsterdam, in collaboration with VORM Ontwikkeling.
• Stichting Bureau ArchitectenregisterregulatoryOthersSpace Encounters BV is registered with Stichting Bureau Architectenregister. Founding partners Gijs Baks (registration 1.010101.007) and Joost Baks (registration 1.050301.001) are officially registered architects in the Netherlands.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Powerhouse Company: Dutch architecture firm with international reach in residential, office, and mixed-use developments. Co-competed with Space Encounters in the Ontwikkeltender Kenniskwartier Zuidas for the 57,150 m² Kenniskwartier 2A project, making them a direct competitor for premium Dutch developer commissions.
• HofmanDujardin: Amsterdam-based architecture and interior design firm with a comparable human-scale, design-led practice. Strong overlap in workplace interiors, residential, and public interior commissions in the Netherlands.
• MVRDV: Rotterdam-based architecture firm of comparable size and profile, working across residential, office, public, and urban typologies in the Netherlands and internationally. Most direct Dutch peer at a similar scale and recognition tier.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with a strong portfolio in residential, public, and educational buildings. Comparable in scale and design philosophy, and competes for similar Dutch and European tenders.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Rotterdam-based architecture office that has collaborated with Space Encounters on the Go West project in Rotterdam. Comparable in scale and typology range, with a similar focus on urban transformation and public architecture.
• UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture network with a comparable Dutch and international project portfolio spanning residential, office, and public buildings. Direct competitor for premium Amsterdam-based commissions and large developer tenders.

Emerging players

• Studio Gang: Chicago-based architecture practice with comparable studio scale, award-winning reputation, and emphasis on sustainability-driven design. Competes for similar international flagship commissions and is in a similar brand-building phase.
• Heatherwick Studio: London-based design and architecture studio with a similar emphasis on material innovation, narrative-driven design, and high-profile international commissions. Comparable in studio-scale and brand-led positioning rather than typology.

Broad incumbents

• OMA: Rotterdam-based architecture and urban planning practice with much larger global footprint. Operates in the same Dutch architecture market and competes for the same high-profile developer and government commissions but at a significantly larger scale and broader typology range.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): Copenhagen/New York-based architecture firm with global project reach. Competes for the same international flagship commissions and developer-led projects, particularly in residential and mixed-use typologies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/spaceencountersamsterdam
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/space-encounters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Space Encounters