lyongo architecture

𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 📣 | We're proud to share that we have achieved ISO 9001 certification last week!

ISO 9001 is the world's leading standard for quality management. It recognizes organizations that have established clear processes, effective project management, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Lyongo Juliana: “Achieving this certification is about much more than a new certificate on the wall. The process encouraged us to critically review the way we work, formalize what already makes our projects successful, and identify opportunities to keep improving. It marks an exciting milestone for our firm and the clients we work with. Having our quality management system independently assessed and certified, reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and to delivering thoughtful, reliable, and high-quality architecture.”

👉 Read more about the certificate and approach via our website:

ISO9001 Certificate - lyongo architecture Exciting news: we have achieved the ISO 9001 certification last week. This important milestone marks a new step forward for our Amsterdam-based firm and reflects our ongoing commitment to quality, structure, and professional project management. For us, quality is created through much more than the f...

5️⃣ 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻 | For this month’s Q&A, we introduce urban designer Hasan Hashas. After joining our Urban Design team, Hasan reflects on his experiences, his approach to designing in diverse contexts, and the role of climate adaptation in shaping resilient places.

Especially in regions such as the Caribbean, where climate change directly influences landscapes, communities, and future development, understanding the relationship between people, nature, and water is essential.

In the interview, Hasan shares his perspective on designing with local conditions in mind and how climate challenges can become opportunities for more resilient and meaningful urban environments. A few insights from the conversation:

❓𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻?
Understanding the landscape is the starting point, from soil and vegetation to water systems, wind, and sun. By learning how a place works, we can create designs that strengthen resilience while adding value for future generations.”

❓ 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Climate adaptation starts with understanding the unique characteristics of a place. In the Caribbean, where local data is often limited, Hasan uses spatial research and maps. Such as vegetation maps and nitrogen flux maps that reveal pollution hotspots. This way he can identify where development can take place and where natural systems should be protected. But successful adaptation also means understanding local stories and communities. Climate solutions should not replace the character of a place, but build upon the qualities that already make it unique.

👉 Read the full Q&A with Hasan and discover more about his approach to climate-conscious urban design:

Q&A Hasan - lyongo architecture Every month, we sit down with one of our colleagues to learn more about their work, experiences, and perspectives. This time, we introduce Hasan, who joined our Urban Design team five months ago. Working on a variety of urban planning projects, he reflects on his experiences so far and explores a

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 💭 | Every place has a story. Some stories are visible in historic buildings and landscapes, while others are hidden in history, memories, and traditions. We believe that understanding those stories is the foundation of good design. Before we begin drawing, we first study what was there before: centuries of maps, historical patterns, old photographs – these all show us the evolution of a place over time.

This historical research allows us to understand why a place developed the way it did and what gives it its identity today. We create plans that continue the story of a place while making it suitable for contemporary use. Whether we work in a UNESCO World Heritage city or in a monumental area, our approach always starts with understanding the significance of the site.

Not every place is historically significant because of monuments. Some places derive their value from the way they have been used, experienced, and remembered by communities over generations. Landscapes, beaches, neighborhoods, and public spaces all carry stories that contribute to the identity of a place. Local knowledge provides us insights that you cannot get otherwise. For many of our projects, community engagement and stakeholder participation is therefore an essential part of the design process. In the end, you hope to create a design that contributes to the future of a place, and that it remains accessible to everybody.

👉 Read more about our approach: https://www.lyongo.com/2026/07/09/designing-places-of-meaning/

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗩-𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 | This week sees the start of the documentary series ‘Nature in the Caribbean’, which highlights the beauty of the 6 Dutch Caribbean islands. For us, architecture and nature are can strengthen one another. We see it as our responsibility to design environments where architecture supports ecological systems instead of displacing them. 🐠

Mangroves are an important protector of the island in the Caribbean, as is shown in the episode on Curaçao. With the Mangrove City Park, we contributed to the restoration of mangroves on the island in 2022, thereby strengthening Curaçao's resilience. Nowadays, the park is so successful in terms of mangrove growth that healthy, young mangroves are being removed from here to be replanted elsewhere on the island: https://www.lyongo.com/portfolio-items/mangrove-park/

The final episode focuses on St. Maarten, where, at the end of the episode, the question is raised as to how the island can cope with the increasing growth in tourism. How do you ensure that development goes hand-in-hand with nature conservation? This is one of the questions we are addressing while creating a masterplan for 67 hectares in St. Maarten: https://www.lyongo.com/2026/07/01/mullet-bay-stmaarten/

👀 Watch all six episodes online via: https://npo.nl/start/serie/natuur-in-de-cariben/afleveringen/seizoen-1
🌵 We believe thoughtful design can create places where people and nature coexist in balance. Read more about our approach: https://www.lyongo.com/portfolio_category/nature/

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲 🎭 | With our design for the Enrichment Center on Saba combines classrooms, performance spaces and gathering areas. Cultural buildings play a vital role in daily life. More than any other building type, they must create space for people to meet, interact, and feel part of a shared environment.

One of the key ideas in our design is that the auditorium extends beyond its walls. The outdoor terraces and seating areas are conceived as a continuation of the theatre, so that performances will be experienced as one setting. Visitors can sit on different sides and remain part of the performance.

At ground level, a café supports this everyday use of the building, allowing visitors and students to get food and drinks during both daily activities and events. It reinforces the idea of the building as a continuous place for spontaneous meetings, not only for scheduled performances.

During the day, the building is used for arts classes by the Saba Comprehensive School. In the evening, you can use it for shows for the entire island. With these impressions you can see how the building will be used throughout the day and into the evening.

👉 Read more about the design: https://www.lyongo.com/portfolio-items/enrichment-center-saba

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 ✨ | We are proud to have been commissioned by SunResorts to develop a master plan for the 67-hectare 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 area on St Maarten.

It concerns a large area comprising a beach, a park, a lagoon, a golf course and residential areas, as well as unique rugged, undeveloped parts. Over the coming months, our urban design team will work on a new plan for this diverse landscape. 🌿🪸☀️

Mullet Bay, located on the southwestern coast of St Maarten, is a landscape shaped by centuries of change, layered histories and shifting uses. Like much of St Maarten, the area is part of a broader colonial history that began in the 17th century. The area also has environmental significance. Its mangroves and seagrass beds support local (marine) biodiversity. It also acts as natural coastal protection systems which help with the resilience of St Maarten, particularly in the context of hurricanes and climate change.

Lyongo Juliana provides some context to the assignment. “I’m very excited to be working on the future of Mullet Bay over the coming months. When I lived on St Maarten, I love to visit the beaches of Mullet Bay – and I still do 25 years later whenever I am visiting the island. I know many people feel a similar, strong connection to this place. St Maarten is growing, and that growth deserves a careful and thoughtful approach. A master plan can help provide a well-founded framework for deciding where development is appropriate and how it should relate to the landscape. For us, this project is about respecting the identity of this place, protecting its natural and cultural qualities, and ensuring that Mullet Bay remains a place that future generations can continue to enjoy.”

👉 Read more about this project:

Mullet Bay - lyongo architecture We are proud to have been commissioned by SunResorts to develop a master plan for the 67-hectare Mullet Bay area on St Maarten. It concerns a large area comprising a beach, a park, a lagoon, a golf course and residential areas, as well as unique rugged, undeveloped parts. Over the coming months, our...

🌞 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆!🌴| What can Caribbean architecture teach us about building for the future? When people think of the Caribbean, they often picture colorful facades or historic buildings. But contemporary Caribbean architecture tells a much richer story. In Kombiná, architect Lyongo Juliana explores how architecture on the islands is shaped by a unique mix of influences—climate, culture, migration and heritage.

The Caribbean faces urgent challenges: rising temperatures, increasing tourism, and more intense hurricanes. Designing for these conditions requires buildings that are not only functional, but also resilient, sustainable and deeply connected to local identity. For example: many homes are still too hot, relying on energy-intensive cooling systems. Better design can reduce energy use while improving comfort and well-being—making architecture part of the solution. 💡

🎬 We will address this issue and many others using a number of our projects in the Caribbean part of the Dutch Kingdom. Watch the documentary online for free: https://www.lyongo.com/portfolio-items/kombina/

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 💭 | Hurricane season in the Caribbean has officially started this month. As storms continue to increase in strength, designing buildings that can withstand extreme weather conditions has become an essential part of architecture on the islands. 🌪️

“The basic principle for a hurricane-resistant design is that every element of the building — from the foundation to the roof — is interconnected,” explains Lyongo Juliana. "With every project we carefully look at which materials, doors, windows, and roof systems can handle extreme storms. we look for materials that can withstand the hard side of nature, and at the same time fit with the wishes of our client."

Over the past 27 years, all of our buildings have withstood major hurricanes and tropical storms. But resilience is not only about safety during a storm. It is also about creating buildings that continue to support communities afterwards. We share our design choices for several completed and upcoming projects on the Windward Islands - from public buildings to private homes, including: Fire Station Saba, Captains Quarters, the Green Flash House, Villa Hideout, Villa Mountain Road, Out of School Building, Dental Clinic Halley, Sister Marie Laurence School, and the new school campus of Saba with the Technical School Saba, Gym and Enrichment Center.

👉 Read more about our approach: https://www.lyongo.com/2026/06/24/hurricane-season-has-started/

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 🏩 | About 100 years difference between these two pictures of Boutique Hotel 't Klooster.

After the Congregation of the Brothers van Zwijsen came to Curaçao to establish primary education, they built the St. Albertus monastery, which is now the hotel. When they left the island in 1987, the building ceased to function as a monastery. In 2006, Lyongo Juliana was commissioned to develop a restoration plan and oversee the transformation.

Our design approach aimed to preserve the historic character of the 1,200 m² former monastery while integrating contemporary Caribbean architectural elements. All additions were carefully designed in relation to the original structure. For example, the existing door and window openings determined the layouts of the new hotel rooms. In this way, the heritage - and with it the spirit of the building - was carried forward into a vibrant contemporary hotel.

👉 Read more about this project: https://www.lyongo.com/portfolio-items/hotel-t-klooster-curacao/