The architecture firm MVRDV launched in 1993, co-founded by Jacob van Rijs alongside Winy Maas and Nathalie de Vries. Born in Amsterdam in 1964, van Rijs has shaped his career through a dual focus on urban planning and architectural design, holding citizenship in the Kingdom of the Netherlands and maintaining a long-standing academic presence within the industry.
Professional Origins and MVRDV
Following his education at the Delft University of Technology, van Rijs established MVRDV. The firm’s name is derived from the initials of its three founders. Early work included the Wozoco senior citizens' residences in Amsterdam, which received the A.J. van Eck Prize from the Dutch Architects' Association, alongside projects for the Dutch Public Broadcasting Company VPRO and studies on light urbanism in Rotterdam. These projects established the studio's operational scale, leading to subsequent international commissions such as the Dutch pavilion for the Expo 2000 in Hanover, the Gyre building in Tokyo, and the Logrono Eco-City in Spain.
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Van Rijs serves as a professor for Entwerfen und Baukonstruktion at the Technische Universität Berlin. His history of teaching and lecturing is extensive, encompassing institutions including the TU Munich, TU Delft, the University of Wismar, ETSAM University Madrid, the Royal Academy of Arts Copenhagen, the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Rice University in Houston. Beyond these university roles, he acts as chairman of the International Programme for the Royal Institute of Dutch Architects, focusing on supporting international activities for Dutch architects, and holds a position on the Dutch Trade and Investment Board.
Published Research and Documentation
The conceptual output of MVRDV has been documented in various publications since the late 1990s. Significant titles include FARMAX and Metacity/Datatown, both released by 010 Publishers in 1999, and Reading MVRDV, published in 2003. Further academic explorations are reflected in Spacefighter The evolutionary city game, KM3 EXCURSIONS ON CAPACITIES, and SKYCAR CITY, as well as the 2002 retrospective MVRDV 1997-2002.
Fast facts
- Born: 1964, Amsterdam
- Education: Delft University of Technology
- Co-founded MVRDV: 1993
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Current Academic Role: Professor, Technische Universität Berlin
Questions readers ask
What does the name MVRDV stand for?
It is an acronym formed from the initials of the three founding partners: Winy Maas, Jacob van Rijs, and Nathalie de Vries.
Where did Jacob van Rijs study architecture?
He completed his architectural and urban planning studies at the Delft University of Technology.
Achievements
- Trained at Delft University of Technology
