Annemiek Bleumink

Annemiek has been the business director at Paul de Ruiter Architects since 2015. She holds a master’s degree in architecture and building sciences from the Delft University of Technology, from which she graduated in 2005. Following graduation, she worked at a number of local and international architecture practices, among which was Altoon + Porter Architects, where she gained considerable experience in commercial and retail architecture, in particular, and Kraaijvanger Architects, which she joined in 2011 as an associate partner. The following year, she was named one of Europe’s 40 under 40 in a spotlight of the continent’s most important emerging architects. As the business director, Annemiek is responsible for the management of the practice, new business and the company’s vision. She is also in charge of client relations, and ensures the smooth running of our commissions with respect to legal, financial and operational matters.

“I got my first taste of office management as a partner of an architectural firm and I really took to it. I’m analytical and solution-oriented, which matters a lot not only at the design stage but also in connection with what happens around it. My job is to take care of these related matters so that the architects can focus on designing and the teams can run smoothly. The way we work together is pretty relaxed, as you'd imagine from a friendly, unstuffy, transparent and modestly sized practice such as ours. I design only occasionally these days. You need a clear head for that.”

Annemiek specialised in the regeneration and infill development of existing urban areas in historical surroundings. It is an approach to development that helps to preserve a country’s green space.

“Paul de Ruiter Architects’ progressive ideas about sustainability really resonate with me. They also help us to secure an assortment of challenging assignments, which keeps my work interesting and varied.”