We give meaning to space through profound form and function.
We are Powerhouse Company, an international architectural firm rooted in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with offices in Oslo, Munich and Nairobi. Since our establishment in 2005, we’ve grown into a multidisciplinary, forward-thinking team of over 100 talented professionals.
Our portfolio consists of a diverse range of projects that reflect our dedication to timelessness, generosity, and detail. Our work includes transformation projects, villas, future-proof workspaces, residential complexes, custom interior designs, and impactful public projects. Every project we design is carefully built on historical and future context, attuned to human scale, and gives meaning to space through profound form and function.
As a practice, we work across architecture, interiors, furniture, and landscape design. As architects, we are part of a bigger ecosystem where design, engineering, planning, development, construction, and asset management work in unison. Through this ecosystem, we bring an owner’s dedication to quality, a builder’s sense of realism, and a developer’s instinct for efficiency to every commission.
Timeless design is a powerful form of sustainability. It creates value that lasts beyond trends and stands the test of time.’
The Floating Office Rotterdam (FOR) is our physical manifesto. A timber, demountable, energy-positive and CO₂-negative office building, cooled by harbour water, which we designed, developed, built and own.
The true essence of a project emerges through a collaborative journey with our clients and partners.
We bring clients, engineers, contractors, and architects into a single collaborative process from day one. No silos, no isolated phases, but a shared momentum that builds real integrated quality in a smooth process. Momentum that elevates the outcome.
Our aesthetic is defined by effortless elegance grounded in ambitious realism. Our designs are always in tune with the context. Attuned to present needs yet prepared to answer tomorrow’s questions. We continuously test our design vision against construction costs, technical feasibility, long-term operating costs, and structural longevity.
The Powerhouse Company Management Team
Founder Nanne de Ru is joined by an esteemed leadership team, including Paul Stavert, Stefan Prins, Emma Scholten, Albert Takashi Richters, Thomas Ponds, Sander Apperlo, Johanne Borthne, Anne Ragnild Larsen, Maarten Diederix and Robyne Somé. Together, we are forging ahead into the future of architecture, driven by a shared passion for innovation and design excellence.
Our best work does not contrast the context; it enhances the qualities a place already has.
Think and make, in parallel
Thinking without doing becomes irrelevant; doing without thinking never improves. We see architecture as an all-encompassing practice: design, engineering, interior, development and construction under one roof, from sketch to operation. We see ourselves as craftsmen more than intellectuals: to become creative, we simply have to create more.
Take comfort seriously
Our architecture is in the business of comfort and well-being, of making places where it is easy to feel at home. That is harder than it looks: one has to invest enormous effort to make things feel effortless. We call it generosity, and it is not only reserved for the wealthy. A generous atrium, one beautiful wooden wall, daylight in the right place: we democratize luxury by inserting delight and elegance strategically. In a home, an office, a school, a station.
Details are the point
Everything a building wants to be comes together in its details. That’s where structure, material and ideas finally meet. As we design, we imagine that it is being built. Built for people to use, nurture, change and convert. We imagine the buildings being part of the communities they serve. We give meaning to space by caring about all the little details that construct them.
Creating sustainable buildings through innovative and intelligent design.
We take a holistic approach to sustainability, considering environmental impact at every stage of the design process. From mass timber buildings to revitalizations and material upcycling, sustainable practices are woven into the fabric of our work. Our goal is to create well-designed buildings that minimize environmental impact while enhancing the well-being of both users and the broader ecosystem.
Behind every iconic project is a talented team of architects, designers, and thinkers.
Our international team consists of visionary architects, designers, and thinkers, all dedicated to ensuring that each project stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence, from concept to construction supervision. The collaborative approach we take with clients and partners is also reflected in our internal culture, where diverse expertise and collective problem-solving drive innovation and exceptional outcomes.
Our projects have been recognized with several prestigious awards over the years.
Get in touch
Rotterdam
Antoine Platekade 1000
3072 ME Rotterdam
The Netherlands
Nairobi
Avocado Towers, Muthithi Road, Westlands
45669 Nairobi
Kenya
