Paul de Ruiter

Paul de Ruiter is an entrepreneur, innovator, and inspirer, known for his sustainable, game-changing architecture. He contributes to national and international discussions on sustainability, carbon-neutral design, and building certification methods. He is also a highly sought-after international speaker, writes opinion pieces for various professional journals, and teaches at technical universities in the Netherlands. Paul is also an active member of several organizations dedicated to a sustainable environment.

In 1990, I graduated from TU Delft, where I also began my doctoral dissertation, The Chameleon Skin. In this research, I argued that buildings should produce energy rather than consume it. Although it would be another two years before I founded my own firm in Amsterdam (I was still working at architecture firms in Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands), this research laid the foundation for what is now Paul de Ruiter Architects. Sustainable design is in my DNA. For example, my buildings are designed so that the façades can respond intelligently to the sun, thereby maximizing energy gain and retention. In this way, we give architecture a unique, recognizable, and innovative character in our firm. Personally, I am guided by the motto Practice what you preach, which is why I have personally designed most of these climate-responsive façades. Furthermore, I believe that architecture should not only provide energy in a technical sense, but also in a human sense. Values such as happiness and inspiration, alongside measurable factors like daylight optimization, create intelligent, sustainable buildings.