CULD

What CULD does

CULD (Complex Urban Landscape Design) is a privately held European design studio operating as a joint venture between Juurlink [+] Geluk and Jaakko van 't Spijker, with offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Founded around 2007 and led by three partners — Huub Juurlink, Cor Geluk, and Jaakko van 't Spijker — the firm delivers integrated master-planning, landscape architecture, and architecture services for complex urban environments. Its technical differentiator is a "parallel integrated process" methodology in which all design aspects (sustainability, ecology, water management, traffic, structural engineering) are addressed concurrently from project initiation rather than sequentially, combined with a "flywheel" design principle intended to give projects self-sustaining momentum after handover.

The studio's product offering centers on four service lines: Urban Design, Landscape Architecture, Architecture, and Master-planning, supported by a project-based delivery model in which bespoke teams are assembled with specialist engineers (Arup, DHV, DGMR, KEO International, Pieters Bouwtechniek, etc.) per commission. Revenue is generated entirely through professional-services fees negotiated per project; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market relies on winning prestigious international design competitions and receiving direct commissions from anchor clients, with the website functioning as a portfolio showcase rather than a marketing funnel. CULD's documented client base spans Dutch municipalities (Rotterdam, Breda, Ede), universities (Erasmus University Rotterdam, NHTV/BUAS Breda), large enterprises (Philips, Sberbank), housing corporations (Woonbron), and international public bodies (City of Kaohsiung, Urban Planning Council Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi authorities).

The firm operates in a deliberately narrow vertical — urban design and master-planning — competing on a combination of design pedigree, integrated sustainability expertise, and long-cycle client relationships rather than scale or technology. Its geographic footprint covers Europe, the Middle East (UAE, Iraq), East Asia (Taiwan), and Eastern Europe (Kosovo, Russia), but with no publicly disclosed revenue, headcount beyond a listed roster of roughly 18 named professionals, or institutional investment. CULD's competitive position rests on talent, brand reputation from competition wins and awards, and ecosystem relationships with global engineering partners, with limited operating leverage due to its partnership-based, project-fee revenue model.

Name

CULD

Legal name

CULD

Website

https://culd-org.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CULD is a Dutch architecture and planning studio (Amsterdam/Rotterdam) offering integrated master-planning, landscape architecture, and urban design for governments, universities, and private developers, winning work through international competitions and direct commissions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design Services - Master Planning: CULD generates revenue through commissioned master planning projects for urban development, campus redesign, and landscape architecture. Projects are typically won through international competitions and direct commissions from government and private clients.
2. Design Services - Urban Design and Architecture: Revenue is generated from architectural design, urban design, and landscape architecture services for residential, commercial, public space, and mixed-use developments.
3. Consultancy Services: CULD provides campus development consultancy and supervision services to educational institutions and municipalities, including masterplan concept development and design guidelines.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CULD is a design studio providing master planning, urban design, landscape architecture, and architecture services for complex urban environments. The firm works on large-scale commissions for governments, universities, and private developers across residential, commercial, campus, public space, and mixed-use developments. Services are delivered via a parallel integrated process that combines all design disciplines from project inception, integrating sustainability principles such as water management, energy efficiency, and ecological value.

Product overview

CULD (Complex Urban Landscape Design) is a European design studio offering integrated master-planning, landscape architecture, and architecture services. The firm operates as a joint venture between Juurlink [+] Geluk and Jaakko van 't Spijker with offices in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Their portfolio spans urban design, landscape architecture, and building architecture services, organized around their parallel integrated process methodology that combines all design aspects from project inception. The company works across sectors including residential, commercial, campus/university, public space, landscape, and mixed-use developments, with projects ranging from urban ensembles like Coolhaven Urban Campus (Little C) and campus transformations like Erasmus University Woudestein, to large-scale masterplans including Philips High Tech Campus Eindhoven and international projects in Moscow, Kosovo, Taiwan, UAE, and Iraq.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Design Services Masterplanning and urban design services for complex urban landscapes, including site analysis, concept development, and integrated design solutions for large-scale developments. Targeted at governments, universities, and private developers.
• Landscape Architecture Landscape architecture services focused on creating rich, atmospheric projects with integrated sustainability principles including water management, energy saving, ecological values, and nature-inclusive design.
• Architecture Architecture services for buildings and urban ensembles with friendly and familiar atmospheres, rich in experience, designed for the well-being of people. Covers residential, commercial, medical, and public space projects.
• Masterplanning Services International master-planning services covering urban design, landscape design, and architecture with an interdisciplinary approach to establish simple and clear solutions for complex environments, from campus redesign to large-scale waterfront and residential developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Award Best Public Space 2014 in the Netherlands for Erasmus University Rotterdam campus
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 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

48 partnerships are on record, tiered core, primary and supporting.

• Juurlink [+] GelukcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCULD is a European joint venture between Juurlink [+] Geluk and Jaakko van 't Spijker. This partnership forms the core structure of the firm, combining landscape architecture and urban planning expertise.
• Jaakko van 't Spijker / JvantSpijker & PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCULD is a European joint venture between Juurlink [+] Geluk and Jaakko van 't Spijker. Jaakko van 't Spijker leads from the Rotterdam office with expertise in architecture and urban planning.
• INBOprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with INBO architects on multiple projects including Little C Rotterdam (ISM Inbo), NHTV Campus Breda (CULD-INBO), and the Erasmus MC Woudestein development. INBO serves as a key architectural partner in project teams.
• Ruud-Jan KokkeprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist/designer Ruud-Jan Kokke was an integral part of the Little C design team, adding an extra visual language layer with steel fences in three variants contributing to the characteristic appearance of the neighborhood.
• Paul de Ruiter ArchitectsprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative design partner with CULD for the 'Bridge of Trees' pedestrian cycling bridge project in Amstelveen. Paul de Ruiter Architects contributed to the winning competition proposal that received 77% of popular vote.
• Tielemans BouwconstructiessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStructural engineering firm Tielemans Bouwconstructies collaborated as part of the CULD/Paul de Ruiter team for the Bridge of Trees project in Amstelveen.
• INBO/JHK architectsprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign collaboration with INBO/JHK architects for Philips High Tech Campus Eindhoven masterplan project.
• DHVsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDHV environment and engineering provided consulting services for Philips High Tech Campus project.
• DG GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDG Group ecological engineering provided consulting for Philips High Tech Campus project.
• DGMRsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDGMR provided consulting services for Kodrina masterplan project in Prishtina, Kosovo.
• Pieters BouwtechnieksupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPieters Bouwtechniek provided building engineering consulting for Kodrina masterplan project.
• Senat HalitisupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal partner providing consulting for Kodrina project in Kosovo.
• ReserveprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of design team for International Finance Center Moscow (Banking in the Green) project.
• MaxwanprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of design team for International Finance Center Moscow project.
• ArupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and consulting partner for International Finance Center Moscow project.
• PegasussupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner for International Finance Center Moscow project.
• GWA SawyersupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWater and environmental consulting for International Finance Center Moscow project.
• Studio SputnikprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Studio Sputnik (including Jaakko van 't Spijker, Bert Karel Deuten, Henk Bultstra) for Kaohsiung Waterfront development project. Studio Sputnik provided urban planning and design services.
• EDS Environmental Design SolutionssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvironmental Design Solutions provided consulting for Kaohsiung Waterfront project (Taipei office).
• KEO InternationalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKEO International provided consulting for Sustainable and Climate-Responsive Housing project in Baniyas, UAE.
• UrbissupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrbis collaborated on Sustainable and Climate-Responsive Housing project in UAE.
• Arup LondonsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup London partnered on 'Knowing where you live' masterplan project in Abu Dhabi.
• Arup DubaisupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup Dubai provided engineering consulting for Abu Dhabi masterplan project.
• Jones Lang Lasalle DubaisupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerReal estate consulting partner for Abu Dhabi masterplan project.
• DomesupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner for Abu Dhabi masterplan project.
• Green Real Estate BVprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint commissioning partner with Municipality of Ede for World Food Center development in Ede, Netherlands.
• AECOM internationalsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAECOM international provided consulting for private oasis resort project in UAE.
• Arup GulfsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArup Gulf provided engineering consulting for UAE resort project.
• Plan3supportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPlan3 engineering consultants provided services for Ecology and recreation on the highway project in Breda.
• BSI consultantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBSI consultants green engineering provided services for Breda highway ecology project.
• Studio HHprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture Studio HH collaborated with CULD on Waterrijk housing project in Eindhoven, providing architectural design services.
• Raadhuis adviessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraffic consultants for Waterrijk project in Eindhoven.
• DSB EindhovensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProject management and engineering for Waterrijk Eindhoven project.
• ABT DelftsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerABT Delft financial consultants provided services for Erasmus University Rotterdam campus masterplan.
• dS+VsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerdS+V traffic engineers and public transport consultants for Erasmus campus project.
• DG GroupsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDG Group ecological engineering provided consulting for Erasmus University Rotterdam campus.
• DeernssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDeerns provided engineering consulting for BUAS (Breda University of Applied Sciences) campus transformation project.
• Pieters BouwtechnieksupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilding engineering consulting for BUAS campus transformation project.
• DGMRsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting services for BUAS campus transformation project.
• Rod'orsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting partner for BUAS campus transformation project.
• Ontwerpbureau B&WsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDesign bureau partner for BUAS campus transformation project.
• Waterpas infrastructure engineeringsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInfrastructure engineering for Little C Coolhaven project in Rotterdam.
• Nieman Raadgevend ingenieurssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting engineering for Little C Coolhaven project.
• Goudstikker de VriessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting services for Little C Coolhaven project.
• van Helvoirt GroenprojectensupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGreen projects and landscaping for Little C Coolhaven project.
• NMA ArchitectssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNMA Architects partnered on iconic square revitalization project in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq.
• Municipalities of Ede and WageningenprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint clients with Province of Gelderland for Food Innovation Strip Ede-Wageningen project.
• Province of GelderlandprimaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial government partner for Food Innovation Strip project.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• MVRDV: Rotterdam-based architecture and urban design studio with overlapping masterplanning and urbanism work; a similarly Dutch-headquartered integrated design practice competing for the same international competition briefs.
• Mecanoo: Dutch architecture firm with strong urban planning, landscape, and public-building practice; comparable in its Dutch-headquartered, competition-winning model serving universities, municipalities, and developers.
• KCAP Architects & Planners: Dutch architecture and urban planning practice specializing in large-scale urban masterplans and mixed-use districts; directly comparable to CULD in scale, integrated design methodology, and international competition-winning portfolio.
• West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture: Rotterdam-headquartered firm focused on urban design, landscape architecture, and masterplanning; operates in the same Dutch design-studio archetype and competes for similar waterfront, campus, and urban regeneration commissions.
• H+N+S Landscape Architects: Dutch landscape architecture practice focused on integrated water, ecology, and urban landscape projects; directly comparable in landscape-architecture-led masterplans for Dutch municipalities and water authorities.
• Studio Gang: Design practice working across architecture, urbanism, and landscape, including masterplans for campuses and cities; comparable in designer-led, competition-winning integrated urban design.
• Maxwan (now part of Arcadis): Rotterdam-based urban planning practice with portfolio of Dutch and international masterplans (and a documented CULD project partner); competes for similar Dutch and international urban design commissions.

Broad incumbents

• OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture): Larger Rotterdam-headquartered international architecture firm with a broader portfolio (buildings, masterplans, product design); competes for some of the same urban masterplans but at a different scale and fame tier.
• Arup: Global engineering and design consultancy; appears as CULD's engineering partner on multiple international projects and offers adjacent integrated urban design services to public and private clients.
• BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group): International architecture and urban design firm with masterplanning practice; competes in the same competition-led urbanism space but operates at much larger scale and global brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/culd

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 CULD