Vision

VenhoevenCS believes that our planet provides ample space for all living species to co-exist in thriving ecosystems. But as human world population and global prosperity increase rapidly, we need to fundamentally adjust the way we shape and structure our use of the planet. This is an existential and cultural challenge for all of mankind.

Mission

We see architecture and urban planning as tools to create a world that is more responsible, healthier, and better for everyone. Creating such a world requires a broad understanding of the many factors that shape environments and influence the people who inhabit them. By taking this holistic approach, we can create designs that are regenerative, resilient, and socially beneficial.

We aim to create innovative design solutions for societal and environmental challenges at every scale. Our focus is the city and its many layers: self-sufficient neighbourhoods with circular economies, emission-free buildings and micro-networks that encourage recycling and healthy living. Our goal is to create nature-inclusive cities based on transformative redevelopment.

Every project is an opportunity to translate the lessons of nature into urban environments. By connecting ecology, society, and design, we create spaces that sustain human life, natural ecosystems, and urban systems alike.

Approach

Building on this vision, our approach at VenhoevenCS is grounded in collaboration. Our partners, associates, and specialists work together with a wide range of stakeholders – from public and private sectors to academics and local communities – to develop design proposals that are spatially compelling and perfectly suited to each context and its future inhabitants.

This collaborative approach enables us to design cities and buildings as interconnected, resilient ecosystems, where technical, social, and cultural elements are considered in relation to a whole. It also guides our international projects in Belgium, France, Germany, and beyond, working closely with local experts to ensure that every design responds thoughtfully to its context, culture, and knowledge.

Collective Leadership

The studio is led by partners-directors Ton Venhoeven, Danny Esselman, Cécilia Gross, Jos-Willem van Oorschot, and Manfred Wansink, alongside partners Hermen Janssen, Eric Thijssen, Martijn Tjassens Keiser.  Our team brings an integrated expertise across mobility, infrastructure, sports, urban planning, mixed-use projects and related research. This combination of skills allows the studio to address complex challenges across multiple scales while maintaining a holistic approach.

The partner collective is dynamic and evolving, growing alongside the studio and its ambitions. Every project benefits from the shared insight, creativity, and care of the team. The ‘CS’ in our name embodies our ethos: collaboration and social awareness, recognising that both people and context are as important as design and technology.