Atelier Kempe Thill, first prize in the contest for the New Maritime Museum in Antwerp

Atelier Kempe Thill architects and planners was founded in 2000 by two German architects, André Kempe (’68) and Oliver Thill (’71), following their Europan 5 winning proposal of three hundred dwellings in Kop van Zuid, Rotterdam. While this project didn’t result in a commission, the office survived the recession of 2002-2004 and has been able to position itself well within the European architectural scene. In the last fifteen years, the practice has grown from a ‘two-man band’ to a stable, medium-sized office with around twenty-five employees.

The office’s range of work has systematically broadened since its foundation. The practice portfolio has developed with collective housing and small public building commissions to include large renovation, infrastructure and urban design projects. Single-sided specialisation and the consequent limitations have been avoided through the wide diversity of commissions; as a result, the practice is also more economically stable. Since its foundation, Atelier Kempe Thill has tried not to limit itself to the Netherlands but to establish itself within the wider European market. The office has acquired commissions in Austria, Belgium, Egypt, France, Germany, Morocco, the Netherlands and Switzerland through its participation in over one hundred and twenty international competitions.

Atelier Kempe Thill is becoming increasingly well-known in architectural circles. In the last fifteen years, the office has appeared in around five hundred publications worldwide, amongst which were two monographs. In addition, the office’s partners have given more than two hundred lectures. This professional recognition enables the office to acquire increasingly complex projects and compete with larger, more commercial practices.