korthtielens architecten

What korthtielens architecten does

Korth Tielens Architecten is an Amsterdam-based architecture firm operating as a Dutch private limited company (Korth Tielens Architecten bv) and co-founded by partners Mike Korth and Gus Tielens. The firm employs approximately 10 designers and provides architectural design services across three practice areas: Architecture (residential buildings, school transformations, mixed-use developments with a strong social-housing focus), Infrastructure (bridges and cycling/pedestrian infrastructure), and Public Space (urban boulevards, quays, and temporary art installations). Its core technical platform is BIM processes executed in ArchiCAD, supplemented by nature-inclusive design methodologies and a heritage-sensitive contemporary design approach referencing Amsterdam School traditions. Notable projects include the award-winning Spaarndammerhart (78 homes with one-third social rental) and Molenwiek Dalton school transformation.

The firm primarily serves Dutch housing corporations (Eigen Haard, Rochdale, Ymere, Nijestee, De Alliantie), municipalities (Amsterdam, Groningen, Utrecht, Dijk en Waard), national agencies (Rijkswaterstaat), and developers (Heijmans, AM), with limited work in Belgium (Oostendse Haard). Revenue is generated through project-based commissions, predominantly won via architectural competitions (the firm holds first-prize wins on Spaarndammerhart, Kattenbrug, Eenhoornblokken, Park Lingezegen bridge, Bijlmermeer bridges, and Van der Pekbrug, among others) and direct engagements with public and social-housing clients. Pricing is custom-quoted per project and not publicly disclosed. The firm maintains a small leadership role in Dutch architectural discourse through founding-partner jury service, university lectures (TU Delft, Chalmers, RWTH Aachen, Gent), and recurring publications in De Architect and the Architectuur Jaarboek.

Geographic scope is concentrated in the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Groningen, Haarlem, Nijmegen, Hengelo, Almere, Utrecht, Rotterdam) with a single Belgian engagement in Oostende. The firm is privately held by its two co-founders, with no external investors, funding rounds, or parent company; it is registered under Chamber of Commerce number 34319200.

Name

korthtielens architecten

Legal name

Korth Tielens Architecten bv

Website

https://korthtielens.nl

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Korth Tielens Architecten is an Amsterdam-based, 10-designer architecture firm specializing in social housing, bridges, and public space design for Dutch housing corporations, municipalities, and national agencies, with limited Belgian work.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131), Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Social housing design
• Residential architecture
• Bridge infrastructure design
• Urban regeneration
• Public space architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architectural design services: Professional services for architectural design of residential buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces. Revenue generated through project-based commissions from housing corporations, municipalities, and public institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Korth Tielens Architecten is an Amsterdam-based architecture firm delivering professional architectural design services for residential buildings (with a specialization in social housing), infrastructure (primarily pedestrian and cycling bridges), and public space projects. The firm commissions through Dutch housing corporations, municipalities, and government agencies, with additional limited work in Belgium. The practice uses BIM workflows in ArchiCAD and applies a nature-inclusive, material-sensitive, heritage-inspired design approach across its portfolio.

Product overview

Korth Tielens Architecten is a Dutch architecture firm offering architectural design services, infrastructure design (primarily bridges), and public space design. The firm specializes in social housing, school renovation and transformation, and urban regeneration projects. Their portfolio spans residential buildings, bridges, public spaces, and mixed-use developments, with a focus on the Amsterdam region and projects throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services
• Infrastructure Design
• Public Space Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Spaarndammerhart - 78 homes with 1/3 social rental, winning multiple prestigious awards including Abe Bonnema Prijs 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marcel Lok ArchitectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on major projects including Spaarndammerhart (78 houses and apartments) and Spaarndammerschoollocatie. Marcel Lok and Korth Tielens work together as design team on award-winning social housing projects.
• DS LandschapsarchitectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture partner on multiple projects including Spaarndammerhart, Kattenbrug Groningen, and Trefpuntkerk transformation. DS Landschapsarchitecten provides landscape design for projects.
• Office WinhovcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign combination with Office Winhov for Kolenkitbuurt transformation project in Amsterdam. Collaborative partnership for urban structure design and densification projects.
• Dennis de SmetminorOthersPhotographer who has photographed numerous projects including Spaarndammerhart, De Boeg Oostende, Eenhoornblokken, Kattenbrug, and Waalsprong.
• Luuk KramerminorOthersPhotographer for architectural documentation and publication purposes.
• Stefan MüllerminorOthersPhotographer for architectural photography including Bijlmerbeauties project.
• Walter van BroekhuizenminorOthersVisual artist collaborating on Booomer temporary art project and former employee of the firm.
• Hansje van HalemminorOthersGraphic designer who created special tile designs for the Eenhoornblokken project (green tiles) and Molenwiek project.
• Martijn SandbergminorOthersVisual artist integrating artwork into architecture - created number tiles for Spaarndammerhart and artwork for Schipluidenlaan bridge. Also collaborated on Molenwiek project.
• Stichting Mevrouw MeijerminorOthersFoundation that initiated research into post-war school buildings, leading to Molenwiek transformation project. Partner in design research.
• SOME architectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerColleague architecture firm designing 2 of 4 buildings in SUHA III project in Amsterdam Nieuw West (Osdorpplein).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Office Winhov: Amsterdam architecture firm with strong portfolio in residential transformation and social housing. Already a documented collaboration partner on Kolenkitbuurt; directly competes for the same housing corporation commissions and Dutch architecture awards.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with strong portfolio in social housing, education, and public buildings. Comparable because both firms operate in the Dutch social housing and public architecture space serving housing corporations and municipalities, though Mecanoo is significantly larger.
• KAAN Architecten: Amsterdam-based architecture firm working on residential, public, and cultural projects across the Netherlands. Comparable because both compete for Dutch public commissions and award recognition, with overlapping client base of municipalities and housing corporations.
• Powerhouse Company: Dutch architecture firm known for residential, mixed-use, and public projects. Comparable because both target Dutch housing corporation and municipal clients with award-quality contemporary design, often competing in the same invited competitions.
• de Architekten Cie. Amsterdam architecture firm with extensive social housing and urban regeneration portfolio. Comparable because both firms focus on Dutch residential transformation, social housing, and integration with urban context, serving overlapping housing corporation clients.
• Benthem Crouwel Architects: Amsterdam architecture firm known for infrastructure (bridges, stations) and public buildings. Comparable because both firms have award-winning bridge design portfolios and serve Dutch municipal and Rijkswaterstaat clients, with overlapping infrastructure design capabilities.
• Studio MAKS: Dutch architecture firm focused on social housing, public space, and urban regeneration. Comparable as a similarly-sized Dutch practice competing for the same housing corporation and municipal commissions, with overlapping expertise in social and affordable housing design.
• SeARCH: Dutch architecture firm specializing in residential, urban, and public projects. Comparable because both serve Dutch housing corporation clients with contemporary contextual residential design and compete in similar Dutch architecture award circuits.
• ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Rotterdam/Delft-based architecture and urbanism practice with strong social housing and public space portfolio. Comparable because both firms focus on Dutch residential transformation, public infrastructure (bridges), and social housing with contextual, sustainability-oriented design.

Broad incumbents

• MVRDV: Largest Dutch architecture firm with broad portfolio spanning housing, public, and commercial projects globally. Comparable as competing Dutch architecture firm for prestigious social housing and urban commissions, though at vastly larger scale and broader category coverage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gus.tielens
• Instagraminstagram.com/korthtielens
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/korth-tielens-architecten-b-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 korthtielens architecten