MAKER architecten is an architecture practice founded in 2019 in Ghent, Belgium, by Ana Castillo Redondo (Spain, 1976) and Lieven De Groote (Belgium, 1977). Ana Castillo trained at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (completing an Erasmus exchange in Rome, where she met Lieven De Groote). De Groote studied architectural engineering at Ghent University between 1995 and 2000 and also undertook an Erasmus exchange in Rome. Before founding MAKER, they worked at various firms. They initially established Castillo De Groote Architects and were also part of TETRA architecten, alongside Jan Terwecoren and Annekatrien Verdickt.
MAKER’s work focuses on developing circular architecture—an approach that integrates transformation, resource reuse, adaptability, and the reduction of the material impact of construction.
Among their accolades prior to founding MAKER, Castillo and De Groote won the Second Prize in the Next Generation category at the 2008 Holcim Awards Europe and received a mention in the Europan 10 competition. With TETRA architecten, they won the Holcim Awards Gold Europe (2017–2018). Since establishing MAKER, they have received—among others—the ARC25 Award, the Architectuurprijs Kortrijk 2025, a Henry van de Velde Award 2026, the Premio de La Casa de la Arquitectura 2026, the Special Prize at the Brick Award 26, and a RIBA International Award for Excellence 2026.
