Moke architecten

Veemarkt 219, 1019 CK Amsterdam, Netherlands

www.mokearchitecten.nl

An experimental and multidisciplinary approach

Moke Architecten is an architecture and urban planning studio based in Amsterdam, founded by Gianni Cito and Ludo Grooteman. The studio is known for its research-oriented and experimental approach, tackling projects ranging from residential architecture to educational and urban planning.

Significant projects

Among the most notable projects by Moke Architecten is “Gekko”, an adaptive reuse intervention of the former town hall of Bonheiden in Belgium, transformed into a nursery school. This project, won through a competition, stands out for its seamless integration of the historic building with the new educational facilities.

Another noteworthy example is the “Wooden House” in Muiden, the Netherlands, done in collaboration with the landscape architecture studio la4sale. This single-family residence is characterized by the predominant use of wood, both in the interiors and exteriors, featuring exposed structure, pergolas, and a rooftop greenhouse. The house is divided into two parts connected by pergolas, creating a harmonious transition between indoor and outdoor spaces.

A visionary design philosophy

Moke Architecten develops culturally relevant solutions for increasingly diverse contexts, where living, working, learning, and leisure merge into a single vision. The studio advocates for an “engaged experiment” based on responsibility, empathy, idealism, pioneering spirit, and a dose of conscious pragmatism. This philosophy translates into sustainable projects that address contemporary needs while embracing the value of innovation and urban integration.

PROJECTS

Villa Bakkum, a tripod with its legs spread out in the landscape

The villa in the wooded area of Bakkum resembles the shape of a tripod, whose legs immersed in the landscape each contain a different function: a living area, a dining area, and a work area.

Castellators, the glass tower that shines like a diamond

Glass is the main material in Castellators, the residential and office tower in Nijmegen, the Netherlands: the more prominent niches reflect the outside light more strongly, making the building look like a diamond silhouetted against the sky

Historic town hall as a kindergarten entrance. Children grow up in the natural presence of the past

The old town hall in Bonheiden has been given a very characteristic role as the entrance to a kindergarten housed in a new building which was designed by Moke architecten. A coexistence of the old and new creates a stimulating and safe environment for the children