About
LOLA
LOLA Landscape Architects studies and designs spatial transitions of LOst LAndscapes. With thoughtful ideas and targeted interventions, we aim to design sublime places that are beautiful, surprising and thriving. Adding unique and memorable experiences is key to all of our projects.
Basic facts
LOLA was founded in 2006 by landscape architects Eric-Jan Pleijster, Cees van der Veeken, and Peter Veenstra. Our team of over 40 professionals includes landscape architects, architects, and urban designers. As designers with an integrated approach, we continuously collaborate with offices and institutions that bring specific expertise and experience. The company is headquartered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with a second office in Shenzhen, China. We work with governments, municipalities, NGOs, and private developers worldwide.
Beliefs
LOLA believes in the synergy of research, experimentation and design. We have an optimistic and conceptual approach to landscapes in transition and a fascination for new spatial phenomena, whether in city centers, urban fringes, or the countryside. We match knowledge of landscapes and large-scale ecosystems with contemporary ideas around people, space, and nature. Collaboration with stakeholders helps ensure our solutions are contextually grounded and responsive.
Body of work
LOLA designs public spaces such as parks and squares, works on redevelopment plans in the city and countryside, and develops landscape transformation strategies and spatial researches. Our work has been built and published globally. For our body of work LOLA received numerous awards, such as the Maaskant Prize for young architects, TOPOS landscape award, and the Schelling Architecture Prize 2024.
Feyenoord Stadium, view from Mallegat Park
Approach
1. Living communities
The world is undergoing massive urbanization at an unprecedented rate. LOLA strongly believes in creating a living landscape that stimulates people’s sense of well-being, identity and belonging within their built environment. Landscape architecture’s role is holistic; creating exterior rooms where people gather, communicate and interact with each other is one of the main design keys of LOLA.
2. Parks and Public space
Being one of the core themes for any Landscape Architect, it is important to have a unique approach to the design of these important places. It is essential for a park to be rooted in its context. LOLA designs parks with strong links to the context, whether that’s historical or more contemporary, like the context of water systems, forest structures or the urban tissue. What we add to those parks might be unconventional, like a star maze or a hot pool right next to an old power plant.
3. Resiliency and Biodiversity
Being a country partly made below sea level, the effect of rising sea levels is alarming. As Landscape Architects we are driven to deal with the effects of climate change in all of our projects, trying to minimize sea level rise and counter heat-stress effect and damage from severe rainfall. The decline of biodiversity is a severe threat to ecosystems all over the world and in the end to our well-being. Our projects are designed to be nature-inclusive, biodiverse (even hyper-diverse). At the same time we also try to bring people closer to nature and offer them a unique encounter with all things living on this beautiful planet.
4. Sports and Health
It’s a simple equation, but sometimes easily forgotten: our health is crucial for our happiness. The more healthy we are, the more happy. And that results in a strong society and economy. Health in public space design is partly about people moving. LOLA wants to challenge people to get moving and be sportive in surprising ways in unexpected places. Our designs aim to integrate ways of moving and sporting in public space, parks and nature in a pleasing and challenging way.
Timeline
> 2006
LOLA Landscape Architects was founded in 2006 by landscape architects Eric-Jan Pleijster, Cees van der Veeken and Peter Veenstra. The Rotterdam based office starts to work on projects in the city center, the city edges and the countryside.
> 2014
LOLA had a huge kickstart in 2013-2014 when we received both the Rotterdam Maaskant award and the TOPOS Landscape Award for our body of work with a one year time-span. Because of that, we got the opportunity to write our little LOLA ‘bible’ Lost Landscapes.
> 2016
LOLA’s park design (ic.w. Piet Oudolf and Deltavormgroep) in Tytsjerk is officially opened! Central element in the winning design is the ‘Star Maze’, a remix of two historic park figures: the star shaped forest and the labyrinth.
> 2018
LOLA’s first project in China. In collaboration with TALLER and L+CC we won the international competition for a 600 hectare forest and sports park in Guang Ming, Shenzhen, China. The jury praised the winning proposal for its fresh approach and being highly attentive to local ecology meanwhile incorporating romantic techniques and realistic urban functions.
> 2020
LOLA always had a heart for ecology, but after the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 the focus of the office is more than ever on restoring ecosystems and biodiversity, whether for whole countries like Luxembourg or local pocket parks like Stadhuispromenade in Almere.
> 2022
In the end landscape architecture is about what is happening on the ground. Constructing landscape is a slow and lengthy process, but after 16 years we can proudly say we turned over 20 of our designs into real landscapes to be experienced by all senses. Sometimes extra large – such as the 600 ha Forest Sports Park in Shenzen, sometimes extra small like the Abrasive Paradise installation in Amersfoort.
Track record
We know a thing or two about Dutch Dikes
2 offices
42 employees
12 nationalities
19 years
5 continents
20 countries
450 projects
Urban life and nature go hand in hand in our nature-inclusive design for Bajes Kwartier
With 21 ha, Park Poelzone is our largest completed park in Europe to date.
The 600 ha Forest Sports Park in Shenzhen is our largest completed park ever.
Contact
LOLA Landscape Architects
The Netherlands
+31 10 414 13 68
info@lola.land
Het Industriegebouw
Goudsesingel 92
3011 KD Rotterdam
The Netherlands
KvK 78581958
VAT NL861458217B01
Recent news
Pro Landscaper nomination and last days of LUGA 2025
The shortlist for the Pro Landscaper International Awards 2025 has been announced, with ‘Water Forum Luxembourg’ nominated in the City Landscape Project category. Created for LUGA 2025, the project was designed by LOLA in collaboration with 2001 and the University of Luxembourg.… More
SPOT Lelystad: A hub of pioneering spirit and vibrant living
The Municipality of Lelystad, a city known for its pioneering spirit, openness, and connection to green spaces, has entrusted the consortium of Heutink Groep, GROOSMAN, and LOLA Landscape Architects with the development of 243 homes on the Theaterkwartier.… More
Premiere Living in Lost Landscapes at AFFR 2025
LOLA Landscape Architects’ short film will be presented for the first time at the AFFR. The Roel van Tour directed film ‘Living in Lost Landscapes’ is part of the official selection for the 25th edition of the yearly Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam.… More