What Studio Marco Vermeulen does

Studio Marco Vermeulen (SMV) is a Rotterdam-based design and research firm founded in 1999 by Marco Vermeulen that delivers architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture, and research-by-design services. The firm operates at multiple scales — from regional masterplans (Klavertje 4 Greenport Venlo, 5,000 hectares) down to building interiors and modular building components — and is differentiated by a focus on connecting societal challenges (energy transition, climate adaptation, biobased economy, biodiversity) with spatial quality, particularly in the Dutch delta context. Core technical capabilities include biobased construction (cross-laminated timber, hemp-fiber/bioresin facades), hybrid timber engineering at large scale (most notably the Dutch Mountains project in Eindhoven, planned as the world's largest wooden-hybrid building at 65,000 m2 and 133 m height), and water/climate-adaptation design (Wateratlas Binnenstedelijke Nieuwe Maas, freshwater tidal park at Biesbosch).

The firm generates revenue through project-based professional fees paid by Dutch public-sector and cultural clients, including municipalities (Rotterdam, Eindhoven), provinces (Noord-Brabant), national ministries, infrastructure operators (ProRail, Rijkswaterstaat), and museum foundations. The studio is privately held with no disclosed external investment, parent company, or subsidiaries, and is run by a compact team of 5 named professionals plus historical contributors. Distribution is direct: projects are won via architectural competitions, direct public-sector commissions, and collaborative partnerships (e.g., Lingotto, Urban Xchange, BLOC, Arup, NPSP Composieten) on landmark developments. Operational reach is domestic Netherlands, with international recognition limited to design publications, exhibitions (Dutch Design Week, Landscape Biennale 2021), and broadcast features (VPRO Tegenlicht).

Name

Studio Marco Vermeulen

Legal name

Studio Marco Vermeulen

Website

https://marcovermeulen.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studio Marco Vermeulen is a Rotterdam-based design and research firm founded in 1999 delivering sustainable architecture, urbanism, landscape, and research-by-design services to Dutch government, infrastructure, and museum clients, with deep specialization in biobased construction and climate-adaptive design.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture Services

NAICS

Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Architectural Services (54131), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Sustainable architecture
• Urban planning
• Landscape architecture
• Research-by-design

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Project-based professional fees for architecture, urbanism, landscape design, and exhibition design services. Revenue generated through government contracts, museum commissions, and institutional project engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Studio Marco Vermeulen is a design office offering architecture, urbanism, landscape architecture, and research-by-design services for government and cultural clients. The firm works across scales from regional visions to building design, specializing in biobased construction, climate adaptation, water management, and sustainable spatial planning. Deliverables include building projects (e.g., museums, mixed-use towers), masterplans, exhibitions, pavilions, and policy/research documents.

Product overview

Studio Marco Vermeulen is a design office offering architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, and research-by-design services. The firm works across scales—from regional visions to building design—and specializes in connecting societal challenges (energy transition, climate adaptation, biobased economy, biodiversity) with spatial quality. The portfolio includes building projects such as The Dutch Mountains (wooden hybrid towers), Biesbosch Museumeiland (museum transformation), and Museum VONK (biobased museum); masterplans including GreenTech Park and Klavertje 4; temporary installations like Biobasecamp and Festivalhart Rotterdam Architectuurmaand; and research/policy documents such as Wateratlas Binnenstedelijke Nieuwe Maas and Woonlandschappen 3.0.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Design Services
• Urban Planning Services
• Landscape Architecture Services
• Research by Design Services
• The Dutch Mountains
• Biesbosch Museumeiland
• Museum VONK
• Lab Delta
• Wateratlas Binnenstedelijke Nieuwe Maas
• Woonlandschappen 3.0
• Festivalhart Rotterdam Architectuurmaand
• Biobasecamp
• Museum De Ronde Venen
• Gasontvangststation Dinteloord
• GreenTech Park
• Klavertje 4 Greenport Venlo

Quantifiable outcome

• Dutch Mountains will be the largest wooden-hybrid building in the world at 65,000 m2 and 133 meters height
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ArupcoreTechnology or IntegrationEngineering collaboration for Dutch Mountains project. Arup provides structural engineering expertise for the large-scale timber hybrid construction.
• LingottocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Dutch Mountains project in Eindhoven railway zone development.
• Urban XchangecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Dutch Mountains project.
• BLOCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partner for Dutch Mountains project.
• Dutch Design FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizational partner for Biobasecamp pavilion at Dutch Design Week 2019.
• GasunieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClient for Dinteloord Gas Receiving Station with biobased facade.
• ProRailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration for modular station design and biobased facade solutions for railway infrastructure.
• RijkswaterstaatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for infrastructure and water management projects including De Zonneroute A37.
• Architectuur Instituut RotterdamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Rotterdam Architectuurmaand including Festivalhart project.
• Creative Industries Fund NLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding and support for design research projects including Biobased Backbone and Woonlandschappen 3.0.
• Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve IndustrieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for creative industry projects and design research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture and urban design practice working across architecture, interior, and urban planning. Comparable in delivering research-driven design for public, cultural, and mixed-use developments, with similar emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
• cepezed: Dutch architecture practice known for sustainable, modular, and industrializable design. Comparable in promoting biobased, demountable, and circular construction systems for public and infrastructure clients, including modular facade solutions similar to the ProRail substations.
• RAU Architects: Dutch practice focused on regenerative architecture, circular construction, and biobased design. Directly comparable in scaling biobased building techniques for institutional and public clients and in merging research with built work.
• MVRDV: Rotterdam-headquartered architecture firm with an international practice and strong sustainability/climate-adaptation agenda. Highly comparable as a Dutch design office working at architectural and urban scales with research-driven methodology, though materially larger in headcount and project scope.
• De Architekten Cie. Established Amsterdam architecture firm with strong public-sector and Dutch municipal portfolio. Comparable in delivering architecture, urbanism, and masterplans for Dutch cities, including cultural and residential complexes of similar scale to Dutch Mountains.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Rotterdam-based practice combining architecture, urbanism, and research with a strong climate-adaptation and delta-region focus. Closely comparable domain expertise in Dutch water, landscape, and adaptive urbanism for municipal clients.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with comparable municipal, cultural, and public-sector client base. Comparable in offering architecture, urbanism, and landscape services for Dutch and international clients, with a similar focus on quality public architecture and landmark cultural projects.
• Powerhouse Company: Dutch architecture firm specializing in sustainable and energy-neutral building design. Directly comparable focus on low-carbon architecture and biobased/circular construction, with overlapping work on hybrid timber and energy-positive projects for public clients.

Others

• Arup: Global engineering firm and named structural partner for the Dutch Mountains project. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler (engineering, sustainability consulting, facade design) rather than a competitor, illustrating the type of partner Studio Marco Vermeulen relies on to deliver large-scale sustainable buildings.

Broad incumbents

• OMA: Internationally established Dutch architecture firm (Office for Metropolitan Architecture) working across architecture, urbanism, and cultural infrastructure. Overlaps with Studio Marco Vermeulen on museum, masterplan, and research-led projects but operates at a much larger scale globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studio-marco-vermeulen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Studio Marco Vermeulen