WATERFORT PLAZA project is finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2026 Studio Akkerhuis and Lyongo Architecture, together with our client and the Government of Curaçao, are developing the Waterfort Plaza masterplan in Punda. The project has been shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival (WAF) 2026 in the category Future Projects – Masterplanning. Working within the UNESCO World Heritage listed historic area of Willemstad, Curaçao, the project re-activates the Waterfort as an open and welcoming public place, creating a new destination for everyday urban life while reconnecting the historic city with the waterfront. With @lyongoarchitecture @algemeenpensioenfondscuracao @worldarchfest

As temperatures rise, we appreciate even more the places where we can enjoy a little freshness. Around the Meelfabrek, the new public spaces opening onto the canal and waterfront invite people to slow down, take a stroll, or simply sit for a while in the sun—or in the shade of the trees. At the heart of the project, the garden brings lush greenery and creates a pleasant atmosphere throughout the summer. And when the rain arrives, the garden and public spaces offer a welcome sense of calm and freshness. . . . De Meelfabriek Leiden, Netherlands 2015 - ongoing Mixed use , 55000 m² With @demeelfabriek @pietersbouwtechniek @lolalandscape Photos by @corentinhaubruge

In Curaçao, spring is not a season that arrives, but a presence that reveals itself in the light. It lingers in the slow drift of shadows, in the warmth held by stone, in the quiet dialogue between sea air and structure. On site, each moment becomes a way of seeing. Forms emerge gently, materials catch the sun, and the landscape guides every intention. Here, spring is a shift in perception - a soft sharpening of the gaze, where inspiration settles into place. . . . Curaçao 2020, on going @lyongoarchitecture @algemeenpensioenfondscuracao

Spring settles over the Portuguese countryside, revealing the textures of old stone, timber, and land shaped by time. As nature awakens, this former farm begins its quiet transformation — openings rediscovered, volumes reimagined, and a new dialogue emerging between past and present. Guided by light and memory, the reconversion unfolds gradually… soon to be revealed. . . . Portugal 2024, ongoing At @quintadosbugalhos With @atelierpeninsular

Meelpakhuis will be at the launch of NL25, a new publication by Maas Lawrence bringing together 143 projects by 134 architects from across the Netherlands placing well-known and lesser-known work side by side. Publication NL 25 Thursday 23 April 2026, 19.30 Veerlaan 3, Rotterdam With @_maaslawrence_ Photos by @corentinhaubruge

Curaçao, last week. With the masterplan fase completed, we’ve now started working on the next chapter of this project. Being on site again, walking the landscape, seeing the light, and experiencing the place beyond the drawings, was incredibly inspiring. It added new layers to the project and brought many ideas with it. We’re looking forward to continuing this process together with @lyongoarchitecture - developing the project step by step, and shaping it further in the months ahead. The project aims to introduce the new plaza as an attractive destination in Punda - reactivating the historic Waterfort structure with new activity, and creating a place where indoor and outdoor life flow naturally together. Thank you to @algemeenpensioenfondscuracao for the wonderful collaboration and for guiding us around the island during this inspiring visit!