Our Philosophy

"We strive to give each project a unique 'soul', firmly rooted in history, community and nature"

BUREAU FRAAI

“We are an architectural and interior design studio based in Amsterdam. We design buildings and interiors with strong, outspoken, individual identities. We strive to give each project a unique ‘soul’, firmly rooted in history, community, and nature.”

Rooted in History

While today’s society is characterised by its fast pace and many cities and areas are changing and transforming rapidly to catch up to the present demands, valuable historical features, characteristics and stories are being lost forever. Bureau Fraai tries to preserve these values and stories. By doing extensive research on the location and history, determining features form the basis of their designs. Bureau Fraai aims to find a balance where the past is being preserved and not forgotten and while today’s demands are being fulfilled.

Rooted in Community

While everybody is unique, we strongly believe we are all unified by difference.
We create buildings and interiors that activate people and communities to meet and connect, where differences can be celebrated and people can reconnect by what they have in common. This way existing communities can flourish and new ones can arise. Communities where people feel safe and invited to embrace and express one’s unique identity and at the same time re-connect to each-other, making joint memories and developing a sense of belonging.

Rooted in Nature

For us, sustainable building isn’t a choice, but a self-evident starting point. As a studio, we consciously focus on biobased and circular building principles, working with renewable, natural materials that minimise environmental impact. We always seek solutions that fit the location, respecting the existing context and focusing on the long term. For us, sustainability also means solid and future-proof construction: high-quality materials, smart technologies, and flexible designs that can adapt to changing needs. At the same time, we believe in the power of regenerative construction designs that not only cause damage but actively contribute to the recovery of people, nature, and the environment.

 

* fraaiheid

In 2012 we founded design label Fraaiheid (together with Sjoerd Schaapveld) as a platform for designing, developing, and selling our own products and furniture worldwide. Not only a successful design label, Fraaiheid is an important platform and showcase where we experiment and explore craftsmanship, materials, products, details, and production techniques as part of our architectural work.

Bureau Fraai

Meet Our Creative Team

Rikjan Scholten

Rikjan Scholten

architect/ co-founder (rikjan@bureaufraai.com)
Rikjan is co-founder of Bureau Fraai, and chairman of Club A 'BNA netwerk Amsterdam'. He conducted his Master’s research at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn NY and received his Master’s Degree from the Faculty of Architecture at Delft Technical University. From 2005-2014 he worked at renowned Dutch firms such as UN Studio, Architectenbureau Marlies Rohmer and Personal Architecture, alongside taking on projects for private clients. He assisted the municipality of Eindhoven in the implementation of ‘Het Nieuwe Werken’ in their organisation, and he co-developed their tender procedure towards sustainable municipal buildings.

Daniel Aw

Daniel Aw

architect/ co-founder (daniel@bureaufraai.com)
Daniel is co-founder of Bureau Fraai. He completed his Master’s Degree at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture and earned his degree in Building Science and Constructional Engineering at the Tilburg Avans University of Applied Sciences. From 2006-2014 he worked for renowned firms in and outside the Netherlands such as Studioninedots, Claus & Kaan Architecten and Ministry of Design (Singapore) where he built up an extensive experience in educational, housing and public projects.

team

We work on our projects together with dedicated people with different backgrounds. Both national and international, from product designers, (interior-/landscape-) architects to urbanists. Current and former team members are:
Fenia Koutsoura, Konstantina Potsou, Riccardo Abagnale, Mariana Abreu, Penelope Croset, Margot Jourdan, Antoine van Erp, Livia Tanasa, Max Mehl, Frederieke Hakman, Joost Körver, Henrik-Jan Haarink, Liana Arpinte, Margarita Vogatzi

Interested in Bureau Fraai? Send you CV and portfolio to jobs@bureaufraai.com