Mecanoo is happy to announce the promotion of Nuno Fontarra, Rick Splinter and Arne Lijbers as new partners. Together with Founding Partner/Creative Director Francine Houben and Design and Research Director/Partner, Dick van Gameren, Mecanoo now consists of five partners. These appointments reflect Mecanoo’s ambitions and ensures the continuous development in the sectors of activity that have built its reputation since 1984. 

 Nuno joined Mecanoo in 2002. Nuno actively contributes to the scope and quality of Mecanoo’s portfolio of work having engaged on numerous award-winning cultural projects and competition entries. Highly creative, innovative and flexible, Nuno has propelled the conceptualisation and design development of many of Mecanoo’s most innovative and sculptural projects. 

 “A site-based approach to design aims to enhance the context of its intervention, it strives to be inherently understanding, responding and relating to subtle contextual qualities – its people and its place” Nuno Fontarra. 

Rick joined Mecanoo in 2003. His housing projects are characterised by varied sustainable development with carefully integrated public spaces creating distinct identities. His educational projects reflect a keen attention to innovation in educational programme delivery. The design of exciting spaces for students, staff and visitors alike is also an important consideration. 

 “In a successful design, we carefully compose a coherent, solid and attractive proposal using location-specific information. As architects, we consider the time people will use and experience our buildings and offer maximum effort in the relatively short time designing them.” Rick Splinter. 

Since his start at Mecanoo in 2012, Arne has rapidly developed his design skills with a distinctive energy. From the project outset, Arne establishes clear and efficient project-wide collaborative practices to ensure the integration of complex information and procedures for optimal teamwork coordination. Arne has hands-on experience with all stages of the project, from the sketching phase and conceptual design to the delivery of state-of-the-art buildings. 

“Architecture is more than buildings, it is about creating your own environment. I believe that architecture can bring more quality to life in all its aspects, it can help us grow, create and excel.” Arne Lijbers. 

Mecanoo, officially founded in Delft in 1984, is made up of a highly multidisciplinary staff of creative professionals from 25 countries. Mecanoo has extensive experience designing and realising exceptional buildings which serve client ambitions while creating vibrant end-user spaces. Each project responds to our philosophy of People, Place and Purpose: to the client’s requirements and the user’s needs (People); the physical context, climate and culture (Place); and the current and predicted potential of a building’s function (Purpose).