News

Architect Daan Roggeveen, founder of MORE Architecture, interviewed Alexander Pols for Architectenweb’s Tower of Babel series. They discuss his career, his long-standing collaboration with Hans Kollhoff and — of course — his views on high-rise architecture. Listen to the podcast here.

Production: Lieven Heeremans
Platform: Architectenweb
Supported by: Stichting Hoogbouw
Music: Job Roggeveen

Construction has begun on the 'Het Kwartier' residential building, the first phase of the Officierscasino complex in Soesterberg. The development, comprising 104 rental units, is being built in a square configuration featuring a shared central courtyard, with access to all homes provided via surrounding walkways. Completion is expected in the summer of 2028.

In a team with architects Hans van der Heijden, MartensWillems & Christoph Grossmann Architekten, we were invited to design four buildings for the area development of the new city center of Berlin, on the site where the city originated. Unfortunately, we did not win a prize, but it was a fantastic collaboration. The designs can be seen below.

On June 15, 2026, the STADgesprek 'Hague Beauty 2.0: The New Hague School and the Hague Portico' took place in the old American Embassy, focusing on beauty in The Hague. Beauty is by definition a subjective concept. That sometimes makes it difficult to discuss the aesthetic side of architecture and urban planning, says Alexander Pols. Moreover, our perception of beauty has changed over the centuries. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Municipality of The Hague valued different elements than it does today. To illustrate this, Pols draws during his presentation from the book 'Bouwkunst in de stad en op het land' (1917) by architect Herman van der Kloot Meijburg.

Construction has started on phase 1 of the 'Rijnlust' ensemble on the Oude Rijn in Alphen aan den Rijn. Phase 1 is designed as an interpretation of the vanished country estate and comprises six apartments, which is currently under construction. Phase 2 is being designed next to it: here, three apartments are being built around a monumental plane tree.

The permit for our transformation project in Brussels is irrevocable. It was a long process in which the City Architect played a key role. With an improved plan, we are now finalizing the design for the tender, with construction starting at the end of 2026!