Pip van Bremen

After completing his bachelor's degree in Architecture in Delft and a minor in Art and Architectural History, Pip decided to pursue his master's degree in Architecture at the Technical University in Delft. During his studies, he had the opportunity to go to the University of Melbourne (School of Design) in Australia as an exchange student.

For his graduation project, Pip focused on researching social inequality in the wealthiest municipality of London, where the gap between the rich and the poor is substantial. His central question was, "How can we help the local residents help themselves?" In response to this research question, he first conducted sociological research in the northern part of Kensington & Chelsea, where a multicultural population had been systematically marginalized in the shadow of the burned Grenfell Tower, compared to the affluent south of the borough.

By gradually transforming the area under and around the largest - physical and social - barrier in the area (the Westway highway) into a green and active zone, the conditions are ensured for people to develop, making the entire area more attractive. A cultural neighbourhood center serves as the final link, a place where residents can come together and support each other.

Pip also completed internships at various architectural firms, including LOT-EK in New York, known for its architectural designs using shipping containers and other industrial by-products. During and after his graduation, Pip worked at MVSA Architects, where he worked on major projects such as the transformation of the historic Vroom & Dreesman building in Haarlem, the tender for the casino in Middelkerke, and recently, the winning proposal for a large urban development project along the IJ.

From a young age, Pip was taken to churches and museums: "As I grew older, my interest in both the natural world and the artificial world around us grew. I began to wonder what role design can play in uniting these seemingly contradictory realities that form a cohesive whole." Paul de Ruiter Architects was a logical next step in his development as an environmentally responsible architect. For Pip, it's a firm with a strong moral compass: "We not only aim to create beautiful buildings but also to contribute to scientific discussions with our work and inspire others to do more. At every step, we ask ourselves: Is this the most sustainable solution?".