Dr. Ir. Pierre IJsbrand Oskam

As Creative Director at Urban Reef and teacher at Delft University of Technology, I blend my interest in regenerative future landscapes with design, entrepreneurship and education. With a PhD in Design (UA), MSc and design experience in landscape architecture (TUD), I am driven by a commitment to integrate ecological dynamics into urban spaces, while exploring advanced technologies, new media and bio-based materials.

As Post-doctoral researcher at the Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University, research collaborator at ID+ Institute for Design, Media and Culture and research Affiliate at Materializing Futures (TUD),  I am involved in r&d and network development on regenerative design, focusing on business frameworks for planetary ventures.

At my start-upUrban Reef, the team focuses on conceptualising, designing and realising bio-inclusive environments with 3D-printed samples. My role involves conceptual design, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and guiding pilot projects from ideation to execution and reflection.

I am always looking to connect with like-minded professionals, academics, students, and organisations passionate about creating open ended, thriving urban environments.

Let's connect and explore how we can collaborate for realising regenerative innovations for wilder cities!

Current positions

  • Postdoctoral Researcher Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Affiliate Researcher Biodesign Delft University of Technology
  • Founder and Creative Director Urban Reef
  • Lecturer Architecture Delft University of Technology
  • Collaborator ID+ Institute for Design, Media and Culture

PhD Details

  • Title Beyond Control: Strategies towards design agency in the Anthropocene
  • Field Biodesign
  • Year 2021

Research Groups

Publications

Books
  • Ramos, I., Cardoso, J. M. C., Afreixo, L., Neves, L., Oskam, P., Gomes, R., Cruz, R., Boelter, V., Rodrigues, Y. W., Providência, F., & Quental, J. (2019). Livro de atas UD18: invisible design – 7o Encontro de Doutoramentos em Design. In ria.ua.pt. UA Editora. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/26042 Link
  • Providência, Francisco, Quental, Joana, Ramos, Igor, Cardoso, José Miguel, Afreixo, Lígia, Neves, Liliana, Oskam, Pierre, Gomes, Raquel, Cruz, Rita, Boelter, Valéria, Rodrigues, Yago W. (2019). UD18 Proceedings Book: Invisible Design – 7th Meeting on PhD Design Research. Aveiro: Universidade de Aveiro. Link
Book chapters
  • Oskam, P. I. J., Bier, H. H., & Alavi, H. S. (2022). Bio-Cyber-Physical ‘Planetoids’ for Repopulating Residual Spaces. Spool. Journal of Architecture and the Built Environment, 9(1 #5), 49-55. https://doi.org/10.47982/spool.2022.1.04 Link
  • Oskam P.I., Mota J.A. (2021) Design in the Anthropocene: Intentions for the Unintentional. In: Martins N., Brandão D. (eds) Advances in Design and Digital Communication. Digicom 2020. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 12. Springer, Cham. Link
  • Oskam P.I., Mota J.A. (2021) Design in the Anthropocene: Intentions for the Unintentional. In: Martins N., Brandão D. (eds) Advances in Design and Digital Communication. Digicom 2020. Springer Series in Design and Innovation, vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61671-7_26 Link
International journals
  • Bier, H., Hidding, A. J., Latour, M. T. C., Oskam, P. I. J., Alavi, H. S., & Külekci, A. (2023). Design-to-Robotic-Production and -Operation for Activating Bio-Cyber-Physical Environments. In P. Morel, & H. Bier (Eds.), Disruptive Technologies: The Convergence of New Paradigms in Architecture (pp. 45-57). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-14160-7_4 Link
International conferences
  • Sochurková, Petra & Sviták, Daniel & Vaško, Imrich & Tsikoliya, Shota & Oskam, Pierre & Latour, Max. (2023). Bioreceptivity as a Factor of Additive Fabrication. 115-124. 10.52842/conf.ecaade.2023.2.115. Link
  • Oskam, P. Y., Mota, J. A., & Bobbink, I. (2018). Landscape Interventions for Embracing New Wilderness. In ECLAS Conference 2018. University College Ghent. Link
Other publications
  • Oskam, P.I., (2020) The Oblique Think Tank #2 : Heritage, Rubbish, Fetish? Curating Territorial Conundrums : 13, 14 e 15 Fev 2020 Porto
  • Oskam, Pierre IJsbrand (2021) BEYOND CONTROL: STRATEGIES TOWARDS DESIGN AGENCY IN THE ANTHROPOCENE, Tese de Doutoramento, Universidade de Aveiro Link

Scientific, artistic and cultural production

Scientific events organization
  • Providência, Francisco, Quental, Joana, Ramos, Igor, Cardoso, José Miguel, Afreixo, Lígia, Neves, Liliana, Oskam, Pierre, Gomes, Raquel, Cruz, Rita, Boelter, Valéria, Rodrigues, Yago W. – Organizing Committee Member — UD18 – 7th Meeting on PhD Design Research — Invisible Design — 14-15 Jun 2018. http://ud18.web.ua.pt/index.php/en/english