On Thursday, March 27, 2025, we celebrated a special milestone: 10 years of Finch Buildings.
In those ten years, we have developed beyond building modular timber homes. We have contributed to the acceptance of timber construction in the Netherlands, helped shape the discussion on sustainable construction and shown that modular construction is a serious, scalable and future-proof solution.
And this, of course, must be celebrated! Where else but in the sawmill De Otter in Amsterdam-West. A special location with history, where craft and innovation come together.
A program full of inspiration
Jurrian Knijtijzer, founder of Finch Buildings, kicked off the afternoon with a personal story about ten years of pioneering. He candidly recounted the highs and lows, and the growth we've experienced together - from the first modular design to large apartment buildings. Watch the recording back here:
Guido Mensink, owner of the site of The Otter, talked about the history of the mill and showed how heritage and innovation can go hand in hand. A great reminder that wood construction has a rich tradition, but with a fresh perspective is more relevant than ever.
This was followed by a panel discussion led by Jurrian, in which experts and partners discussed the developments of the past decade and the challenges ahead of us. The discussion provided valuable insights into the future of circular building, affordable housing and the impact of regulations on sustainable initiatives. You can watch the recording back here:
We asked Kees Klomp, author and change agent, to speak at our event because his vision fits seamlessly with our core values. For years, he has been advocating an economy that revolves around well-being instead of profit, and that line of thinking fits perfectly with our mission to contribute something positive to people and planet through building. During the event, he shared his vision of sustainability and true freedom. His story about Ecoliberalism hit the core: that we need to look differently at growth, value and responsibility. The gave food for thought and inspired action.
A festive conclusion
The afternoon ended with social drinks in the beautiful waterfront drying shed. How much we enjoyed ourselves! The sun was shining, the mill was running, and the energy was just the way we like it at Finch - positive, sincere and full of a sense of the future.
10 years of Finch Buildings - a milestone we did not reach alone. This adventure has been made possible by an amazing group of people: colleagues, partners, clients, architects, manufacturers, contractors, shareholders and everyone who believed in the power of timber construction. We want to thank everyone who has been a part of Finch Buildings over the past 10 years. From the pioneers who dared to explore the unknown with us to the residents who have found a home in our homes. Thanks to your commitment, trust and cooperation, we have not only put up buildings, but also started a movement.
In honor of our anniversary, we released a magazine in which Jurrian looks back on 10 years of Finch Buildings in an interview with Kirsten Hannema and shares our white paper "Modular timber construction: the Paris Proof business case. Read the magazine Here.
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