De Zwarte Hond

De Zwarte Hond is a design agency for architecture, urban planning and strategy with offices in Groningen, Rotterdam and Cologne. We combine social commitment and craftsmanship, creating high-quality projects that fit the context, match the wishes of the users and the visions of our clients.

De Zwarte Hond oversees the various forces at play at a location. We are good at assessing what adds value and enhances the quality of life. For resident, street, neighborhood and city. Our designs have a firm foundation and follow the language of their surroundings, but have a subtle individuality that surprises. This is in the detailing, the materials, the strong connection between inside and outside, and smart and flexible use of space.

We design places, buildings, environments with a surprising appearance. Not made, but conceived, to stay and pass one day into the next.

But it’s always places that touch the heart. Designing and realizing interwoven places, that is the essence of our agency: we unite architecture and urban planning. This combination defines us to the core.

Our projects make society richer, both economically and culturally. That means they contribute to social developments and diversity. They provide cohesion, both social and physical, and encourage meeting and social cohesion. In addition, our plans repair and strengthen the urban fabric.

We are convinced that a plan or design itself does not solve anything. At most they can serve as an agenda or indicate directions for solutions. What matters is that we actually know how to realize and implement them. Of course we are committed to the design, but we also take responsibility in the process towards realization.