Olaf Gipser Architects
Olaf Gipser Architects is an Amsterdam-based Dutch architecture practice (founded 2005, eight staff) specializing in high-density communal housing, CLT timber construction, nature-inclusive design, and Open Building principles. It serves Dutch municipalities, housing cooperatives (CPO), housing associations, and select enterprises through competitive tenders and collaborative co-design commissions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Olaf Gipser Architects does
Olaf Gipser Architects is a privately held Dutch architecture practice founded in 2005 by Olaf Gipser and based in Amsterdam (Hamerstraat 3, 1021 JT). Operating as Olaf Gipser Architects B.V. with a small team of eight (three partners and five staff), the firm specializes in high-density communal urban housing, CLT (cross-laminated timber) and bio-based construction, nature-inclusive architecture, and Open Building principles for adaptability and circularity. Its portfolio spans social and cooperative housing (e.g., BSH20A 'Stories' — the highest timber-based building in the Netherlands at completion in 2021 — Meer en Vaart with 155 socially inclusive homes, Kavel 206A with 300 social housing units, Kavel O with two 90m and 45m towers and 170 apartments), public buildings (Oostvaardersplassen and Veluwe 't Leesten nature reserve visitor centers for Staatsbosbeheer), and infrastructure (65 slow-traffic bridges for the Municipality of Rotterdam). The firm also led the renovation of Schiphol Airport's Skyport office building and won third prize in the Munich Marienburger Strasse competition, marking its first international engagement outside the Netherlands.
The firm's revenue model is professional services: project-based architectural fees generated through three primary go-to-market channels — municipal tenders and two-stage selection procedures (Gemeente Rotterdam, Gemeente Amsterdam), collaborative development with housing cooperatives under the Dutch CPO (Collectief Particulier Opdrachtgeverschap) model where future residents co-design, and direct commissions from private developers, housing associations (e.g., Woningstichting Eigen Haard), and enterprises (e.g., Schiphol Nederland BV, Sustay). Service offerings cover full architectural scope from competition entry and concept design through execution supervision, with recurring technical collaborations with engineering and specialist partners including Arup, Derix Group, Pirmin Jung, Heutink Groep, Vista, Alferink van Schieveen, Smartland, and Cauberg Huygen. Distribution is heavily domestic — primarily Amsterdam and Rotterdam with one Haarlem project and a single Munich engagement — and the firm has no external funding, operating entirely on fee income.
Strategically, Olaf Gipser Architects has positioned itself at the intersection of sustainable construction, social housing innovation, and academic-practice integration. Founder Olaf Gipser has held teaching positions at TU Delft (The Berlage), the Royal Academy of Arts London, the Academy of Architecture Amsterdam, the Bergen School of Architecture, and the Berlage Institute, and currently serves as Professor of Housing at the University of Innsbruck (since 2022) and Member of the Munich Urban Design Commission (since 2024). The firm is a founding partner of the Open Building Platform (since 2019), a Dutch knowledge network promoting adaptable building principles, and has earned industry recognition including the Zuiderkerkprijs 2020, Dezeen Awards 2022, and BNA Best Building of the Year 2022 for Private Housing.
Olaf Gipser Architects firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Olaf Gipser Architects
- Legal name
- Olaf Gipser Architects B.V.
- Website
- https://olafgipser.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Olaf Gipser Architects is an Amsterdam-based Dutch architecture practice (founded 2005, eight staff) specializing in high-density communal housing, CLT timber construction, nature-inclusive design, and Open Building principles. It serves Dutch municipalities, housing cooperatives (CPO), housing associations, and select enterprises through competitive tenders and collaborative co-design commissions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Olaf Gipser Architects industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Architectural Services (54131), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Residential Building Construction (23611)
- SIC
- General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC), Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB), Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)
Keywords
Where Olaf Gipser Architects is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Amsterdam
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Olaf Gipser Architects business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- Architectural Design Services: Project-based professional fees for architectural design, from concept through execution supervision. Revenue generated through municipal tenders, private commissions, and housing cooperative projects. Services include all phases from competition entry through construction supervision.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Olaf Gipser Architects product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Olaf Gipser Architects provides architectural design services for sustainable urban housing, public buildings, infrastructure, and renovations. Offerings span the full project lifecycle from competition entry through construction supervision, with specialization in CLT timber construction, nature-inclusive design, Open Building principles, and collaborative co-creation with housing cooperatives. The firm delivers residential housing, visitor centers, bridges, and masterplanning projects primarily in the Netherlands.
Product overview
Olaf Gipser Architects is a Dutch architecture firm offering architectural design services, urban planning, and landscape architecture. Their portfolio includes residential housing projects (cooperative housing, social housing, mixed-use), public buildings (visitor centers, pavilions), infrastructure (bridges), and renovation projects. Key project types include New West (80 apartments with communal areas), Stories (timber construction tower with nature-inclusive design), urban masterplanning, and bio-based housing research. The firm also contributes to the Open Building platform and conducts timber construction research for sustainable architecture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 600 tons of CO2 stored in timber construction
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Olaf Gipser Architects
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Olaf Gipser Architects technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Olaf Gipser Architects partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- StaatsbosbeheercoreDutch National State Forestry Agency partnered on Oostvaardersplassen Nature Reserve Visitor Center (2008-2016) and Veluwe Visitor Center 't Leesten (2017-2020). Firm served as architectural lead on both nature visitor center projects.
- ArupminorEngineering consultancy providing total engineering coordination for Oostvaardersplassen visitor center project.
- Derix Group (Germany)coreGerman mass timber manufacturer supplied CLT construction for Stories project. Collaboration enabled highest timber-based building in Netherlands.
- Heutink GroepcoreDeveloper/contractor partner for Stories housing cooperative project. Collaborated on timber construction innovation and CPO development model.
- Pirmin JungcoreSwiss-German timber construction specialist provided technical expertise for CLT construction in Stories project.
- Vista (Klaas Jan Wardenaar)minorLandscape architecture firm providing urban/landscape concept for slow-traffic bridges Rotterdam and nature reserve visitor centers.
- Open Building PlatformcoreFounding partner of Dutch knowledge and network platform 'Open Building' since 2019. Promotes open building principles for sustainability and social cohesion.
- The Berlage InstituteminorAcademic partner for Environments of Collectivity research project (2008-2013) conducted within postgraduate program.
- Schiphol Nederland BVcoreAirport authority commissioned firm to lead renovation of Skyport office building (5,000 m2), part of airport's sustainability-focused reorientation.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Olaf Gipser Architects competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Powerhouse Company: Dutch architecture firm specifically focused on sustainable, timber-based, and bio-based building design with multiple Dutch urban housing projects. Direct overlap in CLT expertise, nature-inclusive design, and Dutch public-housing competition work.
- MVRDV: Major Rotterdam-based architecture firm with comparable focus on high-density urban housing, sustainability, and large-scale public commissions in the Netherlands. Competes for the same municipal tenders and share of the Dutch housing market.
- Bovenbouw Architectuur: Amsterdam-based architecture studio focused on urban housing and Dutch residential projects, overlapping directly with Olaf Gipser's communal and cooperative housing specialism.
- cepezed: Dutch architecture firm known for sustainability, demountable construction, and bio-based materials (including timber). Strong methodological overlap with Olaf Gipser's Open Building and bio-based material expertise.
- KAAN Architecten: Dutch architecture firm with significant portfolio of public, residential, and cultural buildings in the Netherlands and internationally. Competes for large-scale Dutch commissions and selected by similar client types.
- ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles): Rotterdam-based practice combining architecture and urbanism for Dutch public-sector and housing work, with social and sustainability themes overlapping Olaf Gipser's communal-housing and CPO-focused approach.
- KCAP Architects & Planners: Rotterdam-based architecture and urban planning firm working on European housing and masterplanning projects. Simona Puglisi's prior experience at KCAP indicates strong professional overlap in Dutch urban housing.
Broad incumbents
- UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture firm with strong Dutch public-sector and housing project portfolio. Operates at much larger scale; Simona Puglisi gained early-career experience at UNStudio, indicating professional adjacency.
- Mecanoo: Large Dutch architecture firm with extensive public housing, public buildings, and urban masterplanning portfolio. Competes with Olaf Gipser for Dutch municipal commissions but operates at substantially larger scale and broader typology range.
- Benthem Crouwel Architects: Well-established Dutch architecture firm with extensive public-sector work including transport infrastructure and civic buildings. Competes for Dutch municipal commissions but with a much larger portfolio and team.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Olaf Gipser Architects social profiles
Digital presenceOlaf Gipser Architects financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Olaf Gipser Architects leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Olaf Gipser Architects funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Olaf Gipser Architects M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Olaf Gipser Architects
What does Olaf Gipser Architects do?
Olaf Gipser Architects provides architectural design services for sustainable urban housing, public buildings, infrastructure, and renovations. Offerings span the full project lifecycle from competition entry through construction supervision, with specialization in CLT timber construction, nature-inclusive design, Open Building principles, and collaborative co-creation with housing cooperatives. The firm delivers residential housing, visitor centers, bridges, and masterplanning projects primarily in the Netherlands.
Is Olaf Gipser Architects a public or private company?
Olaf Gipser Architects is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Olaf Gipser Architects founded?
Olaf Gipser Architects was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Olaf Gipser Architects based?
Olaf Gipser Architects is headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does Olaf Gipser Architects make money?
One revenue line is on record: architectural Design Services.
Who are Olaf Gipser Architects's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Powerhouse Company, MVRDV, Bovenbouw Architectuur, cepezed, KAAN Architecten, ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles) and KCAP Architects & Planners. Broad incumbents are UNStudio, Mecanoo and Benthem Crouwel Architects.
Does Olaf Gipser Architects have an API?
No public API is recorded for Olaf Gipser Architects.
What industry is Olaf Gipser Architects in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAKAA, Architectural Design Services, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAC, Landscape Architecture & Site Design. Its NAICS code is 54131 and its SIC code is 1520.