prof. dr. ir. Hennes de Ridder

Prof. dr. Hennes de Ridder studied Civil Engineering at the Technical University in Delft. He is a part-time professor of civil engineering design and an independent consultant. He worked for the large contractor HBG on the technologically revolutionary storm surge barriers in the Oosterschelde and the Nieuwe Waterweg and as a consultant on many projecs such as Balgstuw Ramspol, HighSpeedRail(HSL-TGV) South, the Transrapid 'floating train' and the second Maasvlakte. He developed a revolutionary, new working method for the construction industry. De Ridder's ‘Living Building Concept’ aims to introduce market processes to the construction industry. De Ridder: "This change in the working methods will allow the construction industry to return to profitability and be creative again, and deliver buildings that will be capable of evolving with the changing surroundings and wishes of the users."

The way in which contractors, architects, project developers and clients now work is fragmented. The standard course of action for a client is to hire an architect and go to the contractor who has the lowest price on offer. De Ridder however proposes that the building industry should adhere to normal market behaviour.

"If you buy a car, you don't go to the dealer with a car designer." According to De Ridder, the revolutionary changes he proposes would mean that the architect no longer works for the client, but rather for the supplier. The client chooses from a package of creative, yet standard, building solutions. Included in this is the possibility of signing a contract that requires the building to be routinely altered to satisfy the changing needs and wants of the users. The building thus becomes a living organism. De Ridder: "In this way, the building industry will once again become creative and profitable." De Ridder says his concept represents a major change for contractors. "In the building industry, people are used to working according to requirements rather than wishes."

Hennes de Ridder is a keynote speaker and chairman at international conferences.