What archi4 does

Archi4 (legal name: Architecten Atelier Archi4) is a privately held Belgian architecture firm headquartered in Berchem, Antwerp Province, founded in 1973 by Mark Depreeuw as a self-employed architect. The firm specializes in bio-ecological architecture, designing new and renovated buildings using natural and renewable materials — timber frame construction (houtskelet), cross-laminated timber (CLT), straw bale construction, cellulose and wood fiber insulation, and clay and lime plasters — while avoiding petrochemical-based products. Its design philosophy explicitly centers on the connection between human health and the natural environment, integrating the four classical elements (fire, air, water, earth) into the design process. Practical construction techniques include straw bale infill within wood frames, CLT structural panels, and Cradle to Cradle / circular building approaches, with the firm participating in the broader Flemish bio-ecological building community through VIBE (Vlaams Instituut voor Bio-Ecologisch Bouwen).

The firm operates as a 5-person traditional architecture studio, currently co-managed by Martine Peeters (with the firm since 1996) and Steven Bydekerke (joined as engineer-architect in 2002/2003), who assumed ownership from founder Mark Depreeuw in 2015. The team is completed by Pat Olieslagers (bouwkundig tekenaar / assistant architect, since 2010) and Charlotte Vanderputte (assistant architect / BIM modeler, since 2018). Archi4 serves private homeowners and families (its primary segment) seeking custom single-family homes, renovations, aging-in-place designs, multi-generational living, and straw bale or timber frame construction; it also serves community housing groups, care communities and social organizations (e.g., De Ark Roeach in Boechout), educational institutions (e.g., Steinerschool Lier), and municipal governments (e.g., the Environmental Education Center in Boom). The go-to-market is direct client engagement beginning with a free exploratory conversation, followed by an intensive design process with the architect–client dialogue at the center.

The business model is professional services: Archi4 charges project-based fees for architectural design, project management, and construction supervision. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is custom per project. The firm has no external investors, no funding rounds, no parent company, and no subsidiaries; it operates as a BVBA-equivalent private partnership under Belgian law. Distribution is single-channel and domestic (Flanders / Antwerp Province), relying on its website portfolio, Facebook presence, project case studies, and founder-led thought leadership to attract clients. The firm has no software products, no API, no integrations, and no AI/ML capabilities.

Name

archi4

Legal name

Architecten Atelier Archi4

Website

https://archi4.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Archi4 is a privately held Belgian architecture firm in Berchem that designs bio-ecological residential, community, educational, and care buildings using natural materials such as timber frame, CLT, straw bale, and lime/clay plasters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bio-Ecological Architectural Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (541310)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural Design Services (BPAHAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE), Whole-Home Interior Renovation (Non-Structural) (HSAPAEAC)

Keywords

• Bio-ecological architecture
• Timber frame construction
• Cross-laminated timber
• Straw bale construction
• Sustainable building design

Headquarters

HQ city

Berchem

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Architecture and design services: Full-service architecture firm providing custom design, project management, and execution supervision for residential and community buildings. Services include initial consultation, intensive design process, and architectural oversight from concept to completion. Revenue is generated through professional service fees for design and project management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Archi4 is a Belgian architecture firm that provides custom bio-ecological architectural design services for new construction, renovations, extensions, co-housing developments, educational facilities, and care community buildings. The firm specializes in designing buildings using natural materials such as timber frame, cross-laminated timber (CLT), straw bale, cellulose insulation, wood fiber insulation, clay plaster, and lime plaster, with services covering initial consultation, intensive design process, and architectural supervision from concept to completion.

Product overview

Archi4 (Architecten Atelier Archi4) is a Belgian bio-ecological architecture firm providing architectural design services. The firm specializes in designing and constructing bio-ecological buildings using sustainable materials such as wood frame construction (houtskelet), straw bale building (strobalenbouw), cross-laminated timber (CLT), clay, and lime. Their services encompass residential new construction, renovations, co-housing projects, and community buildings. The firm does not offer software products, platforms, or technology products — it is a traditional architecture studio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bio-ecological residential architecture design Custom architectural design for single-family homes, multi-generational residences, and aging-in-place properties using timber frame, CLT, straw bale, cellulose insulation, wood fiber insulation, clay and lime plasters; serves private homeowners and families across Belgium.
• Bio-ecological renovation and extension design
• Co-housing and community living facility design Design of co-housing developments combining multiple private dwellings with shared facilities such as common houses, shared gardens, and community spaces; serves groups of families and intentional communities in Flanders (e.g., Cohousing INDRUK in Borgerhout).
• Educational facility bio-ecological design Bio-ecological design of school buildings and educational facilities, often serving as demonstration buildings for ecological construction methods; serves schools and educational organizations seeking sustainable, healthy learning environments (e.g., Steinerschool Lier).
• Care community and social facility design Design of community living facilities, care homes, and assisted living environments that function as family-like homes with nature-connected, healthy building environments; serves care organizations supporting vulnerable populations such as people with intellectual disabilities (e.g., De Ark Roeach, Boechout).
• Municipal and community public building design Design of municipal and public buildings, including environmental education centers serving as demonstration projects with sustainable construction and permanent exhibitions; serves local governments and municipalities in Belgium (e.g., Environmental Education Center Boom for Gemeente Boom).
• Heritage conservation (monumentenzorg) design Heritage conservation (monumentenzorg) architectural design applying bio-ecological principles to protected and historic buildings; led by co-managing director Martine Peeters and serves heritage property owners and organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings constructed with renewable materials significantly reducing petrochemical content
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• VIBE (Vlaams Instituut voor Bio-Ecologisch Bouwen)coreOthersVIBE is the Flemish Institute for Bio-Ecological Building. Archi4 founder Mark Depreeuw was a key figure in founding the organization (originally as Genootschap Gezond Bouwen en Wonen in 1978). The firm maintains connection to VIBE's network and promotes bio-ecological building principles.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BC architects & studies: Antwerp-based architecture practice with a strong focus on bio-based materials, circular construction, and sustainable design. Operates in the same Belgian market with overlapping philosophy around natural materials and healthy indoor environments, making it the closest direct comparable to Archi4.

Others

• VIBE (Vlaams Instituut voor Bio-Ecologisch Bouwen): Flemish Institute for Bio-Ecological Building, co-founded in 1978 by Archi4 founder Mark Depreeuw. Functions as an industry association, training provider, and standards body rather than a competing firm, but is the central ecosystem node for Archi4's niche.
• Kamp C: Provincial Centre for Sustainable Building in Antwerp province. Not a competing architecture practice but a publicly funded demonstration and knowledge center for sustainable construction; referenced in Archi4's project portfolio and closely connected to the same bio-ecological community.

Broad incumbents

• 51N4E: Brussels-based architecture practice with broader portfolio including cultural, public, and residential work. Larger and more design-oriented than Archi4, but shares Belgian geography and engagement with socially-conscious architecture.
• Bogdan & Van Broeck: Brussels-based architecture firm working across housing, public buildings, and urban projects. Comparable in Belgian geography and residential/community focus, though broader in style and not specialized in bio-ecological methods.
• Bovenbouw Architectuur: Antwerp-based architecture practice with portfolio spanning residential, public, and adaptive reuse projects. Operates in the same Flemish market as Archi4 with comparable scale and a focus on context-driven, often reuse-heavy design.
• Stéphane Beel Architectes: Belgian architecture practice known for cultural and residential projects. Comparable in Belgian market position and scale but with a more minimalist, contemporary aesthetic rather than bio-ecological specialization.
• Jo Crepain: Established Belgian architecture practice with diverse portfolio including residential and public commissions. Comparable in Belgian geography and longstanding market presence; broader in typology than Archi4.

Regional players

• cepezed: Dutch architecture firm specializing in sustainable, demountable, and circular building design. Comparable in sustainability orientation and technical rigor, but serves the Dutch market rather than directly competing in Belgium.
• de Architekten Cie. Amsterdam-based architecture firm with extensive Dutch housing and urban portfolio. Comparable in scale and long-established practice status; primarily serves the Netherlands with limited overlap in the Belgian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/architectenatelierarchi4

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 archi4