Our mission is to be a catalyst for change, developing innovative projects that solve complex current needs, whilst exploring alternative futures.
Founded by Eva Pfannes and Sylvain Hartenberg in 2003,
OOZE is based in Rotterdam, and works internationally for governments, property developers, arts and cultural institutions and private clients.
OOZE works across scales, from temporary art works to regional strategies, combining an elaborate understanding of natural, ecological processes, with technological expertise and deep insights in to the social-cultural behaviour of users of the built environment ('
what we do'). The cyclic closed-loop processes found in nature are the foundation for each intervention and integrate the human scale within a comprehensive vision. Each project, whether an art installation, building, public space or spatial strategy aims to create experience and drive change (our '
mission').
OOZE believes that space is subjective. All our projects allow users to appropriate a space, and use it as a tool to transform their culture of living. Our thinking is always holistic and strategic, generating out of the box ideas and surprising solutions to persistent and complex spatial problems. Our approach is collaborative and open-minded, using design to bring together stakeholders from top down and bottom-up, encouraging the co-evolution of ideas.
This approach is applied to urgent challenges in - among others - the water and agricultural sectors. At present,
OOZE work on the Water as Leverage programme of the Dutch government and 100 Resilient Cities in
Chennai, India. As one of the winners of the competition ‘
Brood en Spelen’,
OOZE focus on questions surrounding the future of the countryside, and its connection with the city.
The work of
OOZE has been realised across the world and has been
exhibited, among others, at the Venice Biennial (2012), Studio-X in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2014 and 2017), the Sitio Roberto Burle Marx (2017), São Paulo Architecture Biennial (2017), A/D/O gallery New York (2018) and the Milan Triennial (2019).
OOZE is
published regularly in magazines and journals such as The Guardian, Monocle, Domus, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui and the Architects’ Journal.
OOZE has received several awards, including the prestigious Dutch Basis Prix de Rome for Architecture in 2006 (
Land of Beacons), the
LafargeHolcim Awards Bronze 2017 Latin America (
Água Carioca) and the
2017 Landscape Institute Award in the UK for best 'Design for a Temporary Landscape' (
King's Cross Pond Club).