ZEST Architecture

ZEST architecture was founded in 2008 by the Dutch architect Co Govers (Masters in Architecture from TU Delft), after working with architects such as Max van Aerschot in the Netherlands and Josep Lluis Mateo in Spain. From the beginning, ZEST has focused on combining sustainability with natural elegance, which has always been an important aspect of Co's work.

At ZEST we work according to the principles of "Active Design" (designing the building in such a way as to minimize the needs for heating/cooling/artificial lighting) and "Integral Design" (incorporating decisions about energy efficiency and climatization from the beginning).

Our designs are characterized by the use of natural materials, which we apply in a minimalist and often innovative way, combining responsible choices with elegance. We believe materials that age beautifully lead to inherent durability, so we pay special attention to the "wabi sabi" of materials, a Japanese expression that refers to the beauty a natural material acquires over time. Our attention to detail in the design and the execution of our projects is one of the keys of our success with our clients.
 
As well as working for private and corporate clients on their homes and offices, we have also had some success with international competitions. Our mosque, the Ray of Light in Dubai, won a prize in 2010 and has been published in magazines and websites worldwide. Noted for its beauty and for the fact that it's the first mosque design that provides equal access to both men and women, it has been exhibited in various museums in Germany in 2012 and 2013 as part of the exhibition "Kubus oder Kuppel".
ZEST Architecture is currently taking part in the Biennale of Venice, which opened on June 2014. Zest presents an installation in Palazzo Mora, in the exhibition “Time Space Existence”, organized by the Global Art Affairs Foundation.