ZJA Architects & Engineers (previously known as Zwarts & Jansma Architecten) is a Dutch architectural studio located in Amsterdam and founded in 1990 by Rein Jansma (1959-2023) and Moshé Zwarts (1937-2019). To date, the studio has approximately 50 staff and the partners are Rob Torsing, Reinald Top, Ralph Kieft, Erik Smits and Kay Oosterman.
History The architectural studio Zwarts & Jansma Architecten was founded in 1990 as partnership between the late Rein Jansma and the late Moshé Zwarts, former professor of architectural technology. In 1971 Zwarts met Jansma, the son of his friend and neighbor Arie Jansma, an activist, inventor and artist. During the 80s, several years before registering their ‘office for architecture and development’ (buro voor architectuur en ontwikkeling), architecture student Jansma and professor Zwarts (professor of building technology at TU Eindhoven and TU Delft) collaborated and developed projects and experiments in the workshop next to Zwarts' home in Abcoude. As their collaboration became more serious, they formalised their partnership in 1990 with the architectural studio known today as ZJA Architects & Engineers. One of their first design assignments was for a bus or tramway shelter for the city of The Hague. Their design was awarded the Berlage Award and the city of The Hague ordered 800 shelters.
ZJA Architects & Engineers subsequently took on a wide variety of projects. They were commissioned to design the Dutch Pavilion at the World Expo 1992 in Seville. ZJA Architects & Engineers also designed the upper ring and the roof of Feijenoord Football Stadium, De Kuip in Rotterdam (1993) and the new glasshouse for the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam (1992).
In the following years ZJA Architects & Engineers specialised in infrastructure projects, such as (bicycle) bridges, metro and train stations and traffic interchanges. However, sports halls, (football) stadiums, entertainment centres and wildlife crossings also feature prominently in their portfolio.
Design approach ZJA Architects & Engineers is known for attention to areas where architectural design touches upon questions of engineering, construction technology and materials. The architectural studio has its own research and development department, which produces results that in some cases lead to patents. An example of the latter, is the new building typology known as The Shaded Dome, an extremely flexible and mobile construction that combines an air-inflated dome with a tent that rests on a network of steel cables.
ZJA designs are characteristically simple, light and slender structures. The designs follow flowing lines, the colours are mostly light, the shapes resemble a stylised version of organic forms, in correspondence with the program and the direct environment. According to ZJA itself, they are always looking to minimise the use of energy and material while trying to hinder as little as possible the open views and the free movement of people.
Selected projects and awards
Year Project City Award 1990 Bus and tram shelters The Hague Dutch Steel Award (1990), Berlageprijs (1989)1992Dutch Pavilion World ExpoSevilla 1993 Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam 2001Inflatable Rubber DamHarderwijk2003Galgenwaard Stadium FC UtrechtUtrecht 2005 Pedestrian Tunnel Wilhelminaplein Rotterdam Dutch Steel Award (2006), Job Dura award (2006), Dutch Design Award (2005) 2006 Lightrailstation De Netkous Beatrixlaan The HagueRoutepluim (2008) 2010 Amfora Amstel Amsterdam MIPIM Future Projects Award (Big Urban Projects) (2010) 2015 Extended Waal bridge Nijmegen Dutch Concrete Award (2015) 2015 Wintrack High Voltage Pylons Dutch Steel Award (2016)2015Parking Garage Kustwerk KatwijkKatwijkGerman Design Award (2017), IPME Award of Excellence (2017), BNA Dutch Best Building of the Year Award (2016), Prix d'Excellence 2016 Nederland, WAN Infrastructure Award (2016), Falco Award (2015), Rijnlandse Architectuur Prijs (2015) Nominations: Gouden Piramide (2015), Agemaprijs (2015), Mies van der Rohe Award (2017), Schreuderprijs (2017) 2016 Lightrail station E-line The Hague German Design Award (2019), European Steel Design Award (2019), WAN Transport Award (2017) 2017 Thialf ice arena Heerenveen German Design Award (2018) 2018 Albert Cuyp parking garage Amsterdam Dutch Concrete Award (2019), Architizer A+Awards (2019) Architecture – Urban Transformation, Award of Excellence for Architectural Achievement (2019), ESPA Gold Award (2018) 2019 AFAS Stadion Alkmaar2020Freedom MuseumGroesbeek 2020 Diamond Exchange, Capital C Amsterdam Amsterdam Dutch Steel Award (2020), MIPIM Award 2020, Architecture Masterprize (2020), WAN Award (2020), German Design Award (2021)2024Venue Building Silt, MiddelkerkeMiddelkerke International Architecture Award (2022), BLT Award (2024), Architecture Masterprize (2024)
Publications Zwarts & Jansma Architects. By J. Mensink. Amsterdam: Architecture & Natura, 2003. 100 jaar Modern Den Haag. By E. Vreedenburg & Marcel Teunissen, with contributions by Mick Eekhout. Rotterdam: NAi Publishers, 2020. Het Stadion de architectuur van massasport. By M. Bouw (and includes interview with ZJA). Rotterdam: NAI Publishers, 2000. Architecture Now. Amsterdam: Architectura & Natura, 1991.
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