What A1AR does

A1AR is a Belgian architectural bureau (BV A1AR), founded in 2015 in Oostende by Kenneth Sleuyter and a co-founder, that delivers architectural design and urban development services to municipalities, project developers, care institutions, and industrial clients across Flanders. Its core offering spans full-service architectural design (residential, cultural, healthcare, retail, industrial), urban masterplanning and brownfield reconversion (e.g., Suikerpark in Veurne with ~450 residential units, district heating from PepsiCo waste heat), heritage repurposing (e.g., Sint-Theresiakerk in Gent), and strategic advisory positioning the firm as a partner from initial stakeholder conversations. Technical differentiators include 'Ontwerpend Onderzoek' (design research) methodology, CLT timber construction (Urban Gardens, Gent), landscape-integrated design, and participatory co-design frameworks including paid student competitions with KU Leuven.

The firm monetises through project-based professional services fees, negotiated per scope and complexity, on multi-year contracts secured via direct client engagement, architectural competitions (public procurement), and referrals. Revenue streams are derived from government commissions (Suikerpark for City of Veurne / WVI, Cultuurhuis Stekene, Nilaya Mons, Ten Boomgaard care complex in Brugge) and private developer / enterprise work (The One in Blankenberge, EXAIL's underwater-drone HQ on the Belgian coast). The firm operates from Oostende (headquarters) and Gent (with the Sint-Theresiakerk repurposed as new office from January 2026), runs a team of approximately 22 architects, applied architects, and visual artists, and is founder-owned with no disclosed external investment.

Name

A1AR

Legal name

BV A1AR

Website

https://a1ar.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A1AR is a Belgian architectural bureau founded in 2015 that delivers full-service architectural design, urban masterplanning, heritage repurposing, and strategic advisory services to municipalities, project developers, care institutions, and industrial clients across Flanders and Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

akta.pro primary industry

Landscape Architecture & Site Design (BPAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Architectural design services
• Urban development masterplanning
• Heritage building repurposing
• Sustainable building design
• Residential care architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Oostende

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architectural Design Services: A1AR generates revenue through fees for architectural design services, including urban planning, building design, landscape integration, and heritage repurposing projects. Revenue is project-based, derived from government contracts, developer commissions, and institutional clients across Belgium.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

A1AR is a Belgian architectural bureau offering full-service architectural design and urban development services, spanning concept through construction oversight for residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, and industrial projects. The firm delivers urban masterplanning, brownfield reconversions, sustainable district design, and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, operating as a strategic partner from the earliest stakeholder conversations onward. Core technical strengths include CLT construction, landscape-integrated architecture, and a distinctive Ontwerpend Onderzoek (design research) methodology for complex urban projects.

Product overview

A1AR is a Belgian architectural bureau (architectenbureau) offering a unified suite of architectural services centered on architectural design and urban development. The core portfolio spans four main service areas: architectural design (covering residential, cultural, healthcare, retail, and industrial building types), urban development and masterplanning (for large-scale city districts and brownfield reconversions), heritage renovation and adaptive reuse (transforming historic buildings for new functions), and strategic advisory services (positioning the firm as a strategic partner in urban development from initial stakeholder conversations). The practice operates from offices in Oostende and Gent and does not offer distinct modular products—the services are delivered as integrated design offerings tailored to each project.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architectural Design Services Full-service architectural design for residential, commercial, cultural, healthcare, and industrial projects, delivered from concept through construction oversight. Designed for government bodies, project developers, and institutional clients in Belgium.
• Urban Development & Masterplanning Strategic urban planning and masterplan design for large-scale city developments, including public space, green infrastructure, and mixed-use districts. Targeted at municipalities and developers undertaking brownfield reconversions and district regeneration.
• Heritage Renovation & Reuse Renovation and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, including restoration of historical architecture with contemporary interventions. Delivered for municipalities, care institutions, and developers seeking to reactivate culturally significant buildings for new functions.
• Strategic Advisory & Consultation Strategic consulting services positioning the firm as a partner in urban development discussions with governments and developers from initial conversations onward. Advises on feasibility, stakeholder alignment, and design direction for complex multi-party projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Suikerpark district heating network using industrial waste heat from PepsiCo factory reduces CO2 emissions significantly compared to individual fossil-fuel heating systems.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Karl MortierminorOthers · 1 January 2025Visual coach engaged in 2025 as part of A1AR's 10-year strategic reflection exercise. Used sketching and playful scribbles to capture the firm's organically grown DNA and core values.
• Stille BliksemminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic consultancy firm engaged alongside Karl Mortier for A1AR's 2025 strategic exercise. Conducted a thorough strategic review to articulate the firm's values, identity, and future direction.
• B-architectencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating architectural firm in the Suikerpark (Veurne) urban redevelopment project. Part of a multi-firm interdisciplinary team responsible for the masterplan and building design across the former sugar factory site.
• Denc! StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating architectural firm in the Suikerpark (Veurne) project. Part of the interdisciplinary team including B-architecten, Denc! Studio, A1AR, and Delva Landscape Architects delivering the masterplan.
• Delva Landscape ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture firm collaborating on the Suikerpark masterplan, responsible for the public space, green infrastructure, and recreational water landscape design.
• Willy Naessens industriebouwcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustrial construction partner selected alongside A1AR for the EXAIL headquarters and production facility project. The joint team of architect and contractor was tasked with aligning design and cost from the outset.
• Buro GroenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape design firm responsible for the landscape design of the Ten Boomgaard (Brugge) care complex, including the interior garden and surrounding public park areas.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• MVRDV: Dutch architecture firm with global urban-development, housing, and mixed-use portfolio. Comparable in its focus on district-scale masterplans and sustainability-led design, though operating at far larger scale and international reach than A1AR.
• B2Ai: Belgian architecture and engineering firm operating across residential, healthcare, education, and urban development at significantly larger scale than A1AR. Broader incumbent offering integrated engineering + architecture as a wider portfolio across Belgium and beyond.
• Stéphane Beel Architecten: Established Belgian architect with strong portfolio in residential, cultural, and public projects in Flanders. Comparable typology mix to A1AR but operates at higher international visibility and larger project scale.
• Neutelings Riedijk Architecten: Dutch architecture firm known for cultural, residential, and urban projects in the Low Countries. Comparable in cultural-tower, residential, and urban-typology work, though at a more established and larger scale than A1AR.

Direct peers

• Denc! Studio: Belgian architecture studio collaborating with A1AR on Suikerpark. Directly comparable as a Flemish firm operating at similar scale on urban masterplans and mixed-use developments, often alongside the same partner ecosystem (Delva, etc.).
• evr-Architecten: Belgian architecture firm of comparable size working across residential, care, and public projects. Directly comparable as a Flemish peer targeting similar client segments (municipalities, developers, care institutions) with overlapping project typologies.
• B-architecten: Belgian architecture firm of comparable scale and scope; co-delivers the Suikerpark masterplan with A1AR. Direct peer because both operate across Belgian urban development, residential, and cultural typologies with similar project scales and client mix (public + private developers).
• Bogdan & Van Broeck: Belgian architecture practice focused on housing, urban development, and adaptive reuse in Flanders/Brussels. Directly comparable typology mix (residential, urban masterplans, heritage) and similar client base of municipalities and developers in Belgium.
• OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen: Belgian architecture firm with strong reputation in cultural, residential, and urban projects. Comparable as a Flemish peer operating at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and research-led design, though typically at slightly larger scale and higher international profile.

Others

• Delva Landscape Architects: Landscape architecture firm collaborating on the Suikerpark masterplan with A1AR. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor; complements A1AR's site-planning work with specialised landscape and public-space expertise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/A1ARarchitectsandmore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a1ar
• Instagraminstagram.com/a1ar.be

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 A1AR