Designer of Matter. Maker of Spaces.
Matter Makers is an architecture and design studio based in San Francisco and Amsterdam, dedicated to creating purposeful spaces that honor the environment and the communities they serve. Our goal is to design spaces that feel authentic, evoke emotion, and reflect the spirit of their context.
Through a research-driven design approach, we blend creativity with sustainability to deliver innovative and impactful solutions. From adaptive reuse to responsible material sourcing, we focus on thoughtful practices that create lasting and meaningful change.
Collaboration lies at the heart of everything we do. Partnering with forward-thinking clients, developers, artists, and fabricators, we aim to craft spaces that inspire and stand the test of time.
At Matter Makers, we design for the future, drawing from the lessons of the past. Our mission is simple: to create spaces that leave a lasting and positive legacy.
A bit about the founder
Antoine van Erp is a Dutch architect, designer, and maker with over 15 years of professional experience in ambitious projects worldwide. After developing his expertise at renowned studios including Heatherwick Studio (London), UNStudio (Amsterdam), and Powerhouse Company (Rotterdam), he founded Matter Makers to pursue his distinctive design vision.
His years working across diverse cultural landscapes have shaped Antoine into a thoughtful collaborator with a unique perspective at the intersection of architecture and craft. With a meticulous eye for detail, he translates bold conceptual ideas into carefully crafted realities. Antoine's strength lies in creating spaces that foster meaningful connections between people and place, while thoughtfully exploring the boundaries of form, technology, and local culture.
Antoine approaches architecture as both a social and sensory practice, with a keen intuition for materiality and human experience. He combines hands-on craftsmanship with theoretical understanding, sharing this creative approach with clients, collaborators, and students alike. A dedicated educator, Antoine teaches advanced architectural design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, continuing to explore how architecture can transform how we live, learn, and connect.
Antoine holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Architecture and Urban Cultures from the Technical University of Eindhoven and is a registered architect in the Netherlands (license 1.210913.003).
"Have a look at some of the projects Antoine was a part of as an architect, designer or maker in the last decade by clicking on the images below."
Little Island, Design by Heatherwick Studio, Role: Designer and Maker
Google HQ, Design by Heatherwick Studio and Bjarke Ingels Group, Role: Designer and Maker
The Vessel New York, Design by Heatherwick Studio, Role: Designer and Maker
Parfume bottle for Louboutin, Design by Heatherwick Studio, Role: Designer and Maker
Maggies Center, Design by Heatherwick Studio, Role: Designer and Maker
Interior design for Schiphol airport (D,E,F,G pier), Design by DUS architects, Role: Project Architect
Makerchair, Design by Joris Laarman, Role: Maker
Booking HQ Amsterdam, Design by UNStudio, Role: Architect
HVA university of Architecture, Design by Powerhouse Company, Marc Koehler Architects, Architecten Cie, Role: Competition architect