What The Cloud Collective does

The Cloud Collective is a Dutch cooperative (The Cloud Collective Cooperatie U.A., registered in Rotterdam) that operates as an umbrella for three specialist design studios: Civic (public architecture, based in Amsterdam), Matters (scenography and graphic design for cultural institutions, based in Paris), and Bright (urban futures exploration, prototyping and co-creation tools, based in Amsterdam). The collective was founded in 2010 by ten architects and designers and serves government bodies, municipalities, museums, and educational institutions in the Netherlands and France. Its work spans commissioned public buildings and libraries (e.g., LocHal Tilburg, Schoenenkwartier Waalwijk, ITC Faculty at University of Twente), exhibition and scenography projects at major French museums (Musée d'Orsay, Musée de l'Orangerie, Mucem, Musée Granet), and urban-futures engagements with Dutch ministries including a serious game for the Ministry of Food and the 'Exploring Dutch Futures' exhibition for the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment.

The underlying delivery model is professional services: each studio operates as a distinct practice under shared cooperative governance, with projects acquired through direct commissioning by clients and showcased via multilingual portfolio websites and social media channels. Revenue is generated through project fees; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Technology is limited to standard architectural and exhibition design tooling; no proprietary software, APIs, AI capabilities, patents, or digital products are disclosed. The cooperative is privately held with no external institutional investors, no parent company, and no funding rounds reported. Operations span four office locations across the Netherlands (Rotterdam headquarters plus two Amsterdam offices) and France (Charenton-Le-Pont / Grand Paris), with leadership distributed across the ten founders who each direct one or more studios.

Name

The Cloud Collective

Legal name

The Cloud Collective Cooperatie U.A.

Website

https://thecloudcollective.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cloud Collective is a Dutch cooperative uniting three design studios (Civic for public architecture, Matters for cultural scenography, and Bright for urban futures) that delivers commissioned architecture, exhibition design, and urban-strategy services to government bodies, municipalities, and museums in the Netherlands and France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Design Services

akta.pro primary industry

Event Theming, Mood Boards & Concept Design (HSACAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG), Pavilion & Country/Group Exhibit Build-Outs (THAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Public architecture services
• Scenography and exhibition design
• Graphic design services
• Urban futures consulting
• Civic building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Rotterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Architectural and Design Services: The Cloud Collective generates revenue through commissioned architectural projects, exhibition design, and urban exploration/consulting services. Each of the three pillars (Civic for public architecture, Matters for scenography and cultural projects, Bright for urban futures research and prototyping) operates as a distinct practice within the collective, serving public institutions, museums, and government bodies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Cloud Collective is a cooperative of design studios offering commissioned public architecture, scenography and exhibition design, and urban futures research. Through three pillars—Civic (public buildings and places), Matters (architectural installations, exhibitions, and graphic identities for cultural institutions), and Bright (urban futures prototyping, scenario development, and co-creation tools)—the collective delivers tailor-made design concepts to government bodies, museums, ministries, and cultural organizations across the Netherlands and France.

Product overview

The Cloud Collective is a cooperative of design companies organized into three distinct divisions: Bright (urban futures exploration), Civic (public architecture), and Matters (scenography and cultural design). The collective operates as a unified portfolio under shared governance, with each division maintaining its own expertise while collaborating on multidisciplinary projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bright: Urban futures exploration studio focused on observations, prototypes, and impact. Addresses major transitions in urban conditions, energy, and mobility. Directed by Gerjan Streng and Thijs van Spaandonk.
• Civic
• Matters

Products and services

• Bright (Urban Futures Studio) Urban futures exploration studio that addresses major transitions in urban conditions, energy, and mobility through observations, prototypes, and impact assessment. Creates spatial scenarios and co-creation tools for uncertain futures, with most projects self-initiated to demonstrate long-term commitment. Directed by Gerjan Streng and Thijs van Spaandonk.
• Civic (Public Architecture Studio) Architecture studio focused on the design and production of public buildings and places, with emphasis on typological innovation, architectural endurance, and strong material use. Serves public and institutional clients with a team of 10. Directed by Rick ten Doeschate, Ingrid van der Heijden, Gert Kwekkeboom, and Jan Lebbink.
• Matters (Scenography and Graphic Design Studio) Scenography and graphic design studio occupying the field between architectural and graphic design, realizing architectural installations, temporary and permanent exhibitions, publications, pamphlets, and graphical identities. Serves cultural institutions, historical monuments, and public space. Directed by Joris Lipsch and Floriane Lipsch-Pic.

Named customers10 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

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• MVRDV: Rotterdam-based architecture practice renowned for data-driven public architecture and cultural projects across Europe. Comparable reputation for civic-scale work but materially larger and more internationally commercial than The Cloud Collective.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with strong public library and cultural institution portfolio (comparable to Civic's LocHal project). Operates in the same Dutch public architecture market but at significantly larger scale and broader international footprint.
• West 8: Rotterdam-based urban design and landscape architecture practice comparable to Bright's urban futures scope. Operates in the same Dutch public space and urban transition domain but is significantly larger.
• Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA): Internationally dominant Dutch architecture firm active across cultural, public, and urban projects. Serves the same institutional client types but operates at a vastly larger scale and global brand presence.

Direct peers

• DUS Architects: Amsterdam-based architecture practice combining research, prototyping, and public architecture. Closely matches The Cloud Collective's combination of public architecture (Civic) and research/urban futures (Bright) at a similar scale.
• UNStudio: Amsterdam-based architecture firm with similar strengths in public architecture, cultural projects, and urban futures-oriented design. Comparable international profile and a focus on Dutch cultural and governmental clients, though at significantly larger scale.
• Carmody Groarke: London-based architecture practice combining building design with exhibition and scenography work for cultural institutions. Directly comparable to Matters' exhibition and cultural scenography portfolio for museums and galleries.
• RAU Architects: Netherlands-based architecture practice focused on sustainability and circular design for public and cultural clients. Similar size and similar positioning around civic-scale, mission-driven architecture projects.
• Assemble: London-based multidisciplinary architecture collective (Turner Prize winner) combining architecture, scenography, and socially-engaged practice — the closest analog to The Cloud Collective's cooperative structure and multidisciplinary ethos.

Emerging players

• Studio Drift: Amsterdam-based multidisciplinary design studio working at the intersection of art, technology, and spatial design. Comparable to the Matters/collective's work on cultural installations and exhibition experiences, though more art-installation focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ThCldCllctv
• YouTubevimeo.com/thecloudcollective
• Facebookfacebook.com/The-Cloud-Collective-404380072950321
• Instagraminstagram.com/The_Cloud_Collective
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-cloud-collective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries3 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 The Cloud Collective