XML Architecture Research Urbanism

About XML Architecture Research Urbanism

XML is an Amsterdam based architecture practice operating in the fields of architecture, urbanism and research and is led by two partners, Max Cohen de Lara and David Mulder that founded the office in 2008. XML is committed to designing architecture that both reflects and provokes contemporary ways of life. The office is fuelled by a research-driven approach by turning a careful analysis of a project’s core forces into the driving force of architectural design. By understanding program organization as a key strategy within each project, XML aims to establish new relations between buildings and continuously evolving societies. The office is involved in projects ranging from the scale of developing a series of scenarios for organizing the Olympics in the Netherlands for the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment to designing an auditorium for de Apple Arts centre in Amsterdam. Projects include a design for a new UN headquarters in Bonn, an arts pavilion in Hong Kong and researching the architecture of plenary halls of parliaments around the world. XML has received numerous awards and honours including two first prizes in the pan European architecture prize Europan. The office was shortlisted for the Prix de Rome, the oldest and largest Dutch state prize for Architects under 40. The work of XML has been featured in numerous exhibitions and institutes, such as at the Netherlands Architecture Institute, the International Architecture Biennale in Rotterdam, the 14th International Architecture Biennial in Venice and at the Dutch House of Representatives in The Hague. Along side of their architectural practice Max Cohen de Lara and David Mulder have taught at Delft University of Technology, Academy of Architecture Amsterdam and at the Dessau Institute of Architecture. Currently, both partners are founders and course directors of the two year Master Program ‘Designing Democracy’ at the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam.

Keywords

• Architecture
• Research
• Urbanism

Address

• Headquarters

  AmsterdamNoord-Holland, Netherlands

Team by function

Based on 5 public job profiles as of 4 September 2026.

• Other / Unclassifiable3
• Design / UX1
• Research / R&D1