Thom Hoffer

Thom Hoffer obtained his Bachelor's degree in Architecture from Hogeschool Inholland Alkmaar and continued his studies with a Master's in Architecture at TU Delft. During his Master's, he delved into the philosophical aspects of architecture and sustainability, with a central question: what is the relationship between nature and culture? This led to a graduation project in which he reinterpreted the function of a parking lot as a hybrid, multifunctional space where mobility, recreation, and urban experience converge. "A parking lot is usually seen as something polluting, an open space in the city that serves no real purpose. But at the same time, it is necessary. So, I turned it into a kind of art object—a place where you can park but also a space for recreation." According to Thom, sustainability goes beyond just using better materials; we must also search for a new way of living and thinking, leading to new relationships with culture, work, the immediate environment, and the body.

After graduating, Thom worked as a building modeler and later as an architectural technician at Pieters Bouwkunde, where he focused on technical detailing and sustainability calculations. Here, his belief grew that sustainability should go beyond standard solutions like PV panels and green roofs. "Sustainable building is not simply a sum of measures, but a fundamental design choice that must be woven into the essence and materialization of a building. We shouldn't just strive for a new kind of architecture but also redefine the role of the architect and the architectural designer."

His ambition to integrate sustainability and technology into architectural design brought him to Paul de Ruiter Architects. Here, he works on innovative projects such as the residential building Horizons in the Sluisbuurt, which applies circularity to high-rise construction and integrates smart energy solutions. In this project and within the team at Paul de Ruiter Architects, Thom can apply his architectural expertise to transform sustainable ambitions into innovative and feasible solutions.