Pepijn Determann is an artist, architect and community organizer based in Amsterdam. Pepijn graduated Cum Laude from his MSc in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences at TU/Delft in 2021.
About
What does Atelier Hyphen (-) stand for?
This section is an attempt to make Atelier Hyphen (-)'s roots and visions more clear, more connectable - a process that will remain equally unfinished and important.
Atelier Hyphen (-) is a design and build practice engaging with local communities and shared spaces, run by Pepijn Determann. Every project consists of a mix of collaborators, partners and participants, which is what the '(-)' stands for in Atelier Hyphen (-); the dash as a connector, mediator or katalyst.
As a connector, Atelier Hyphen (-) brings together different disciplinary fields, modes and attitudes in its projects. This is founded on the belief that fringe projects / grassroots initiatives need a unifying or synthesizing energy to grow and succeed. In most projects, Atelier Hyphen (-) initiates its own interventions, following projects from design through construction, activation and gradual growth / maintenance.
In built work, these different modes—building, organising, facilitating, designing—come together as a physical quality. Eg.: a series of chairs is built with the colors and crafts of a workshop, forming the interior of a community center. An art installation is assembled by neighbors who may have never met, and comes to life with a concert and a collective dinner.
Read more about the different disciplines, typologies, themes and spaces within the work of Atelier Hyphen (-).
Furthermore, Atelier Hyphen (-) explores alternative forms of productivity beyond capitalist attitudes and efficiency. We rather celebrate small-scale, bottom-up, collaborative and resource efficient processes as meaningful forms of growth. Over the years, these experimentations have resulted in a series of non-commodified spaces and objects, lived by- and growing with the people who created them.
design + build
Atelier Hyphen (-)'s involvement from design through construction allows for a high level of engagement with local communities, developing a sensitivity to the place and the integration of local material resources. Building is not just about creating objects—it holds the potential to shape relationships and strengthening collective agency through participation. Similarly, designing is not just about plotting outcomes, but rather a (collective) thinking about frameworks and strategies—adjusted along the way to fit in with existing stories.
community organisation
Next to designing strategies, concepts and processes, Atelier Hyphen (-) sees community organization, art, programming and production as vital roles in grassroots initiatives. Atelier Hyphen (-) brings people together through workshops, events, festivals, installations, program series, and through the development of shared spaces. These projects contribute to the growth of places, networks of people and the activation of public life.
graphic design
Atelier Hyphen (-) works across print and digital media to support spatial projects, cultural programs, and community initiatives. Graphic design and promo – such as posters, booklets, communication strategies, socials and hand-outs – are a vital part of grassroots initiatives, inviting the public to engage with programs, be part of something tangible and create consistency. Graphics shape the identity and narrative of community initiatives, which is both important and fun.
trans-disciplinary
themes
building together
Why do we build together? The act of building together connects people and places. Building is the moment where people meet, share, learn and work together, shaping objects which hold the power of ownership and identity in shared spaces. Beyond the practical act—with goals and outcomes—doing things together means sharing daily rituals such as eating and sleeping, resulting in a dynamic construction site and collective experience, creating a lasting impact on a community.
revaluing material
Why do we obsess over scrap? Using discarded materials such as construction waste, packaging material, festival waste or end-of-life components is not a goal, but the foundation of Atelier Hyphen (-). This radical stance in circular material-flows is an optimistic stance towards the urgent environmental crisis and resource depletion; it does not in the first place try to criticize or reject. It tries to show new ways, approaches and aesthetics with used materials. The routined methodology of finding, analysing, inventorizing and repurposing creates new narratives tying the past to the future. Besides, the main goal of projects is often space-driven and community-driven, while material reuse is always there as a core methodology.
activating shared spaces
What is so interesting about shared spaces? What drives Atelier Hyphen (-) is the potential of common space. Common spaces—such as community centers, shared plinth facilities, common land and public space—play a crucial role in the social resilience and health of local communities. By developing bottom-up sociocultural programs between co-construction, art and celebration, we show the relevance and possibilities of these spaces to the city, the neighborhood and local communities. Evolving interventions, programming, maintenance, and care are not just specific to these environments—they are essential for a thriving city at the local scale.
typology
furniture + interior
Chairs, lamps, benches, bars and cabinets in special places. Many of these projects involve modular, adaptable elements that respond to changing needs, often made from reclaimed materials and built collectively to foster a sense of ownership.
pavilion + structures
Small architectural interventions—such as pavilions, temporary installations in public space, and structures for festivals—as catalysts for social encounters, culture or community growth. Structures make use of local materials without exception, and are conceived and executed in participatory processes.
workshop
How do we program the construction process? Atelier Hyphen (-) sees workshops as a way to collectivize making processes, create ownership and build temporary spaces of exchange. Workshop programs include independent programs for specific target groups like local youth or architects / designers, and often lead to the subsequent construction of a project. This way, workshops hold the potential to show the diversity, character and identity of people through painting, playing, building and experimenting together.
art installation
Contextual art, assemblage sculpture and new narratives around sustainability, deconstruction, unlearning and new communities. Many installations emerge from research into waste-stream materials, performative structures, and the politics of space. Projects hold space for experimentation with materiality, transdisciplinary encounters and contextuality.
development
These projects contribute to initiatives that gradually evolve over time, growing into vibrant spaces and interconnected (cultural) communities. Through strategies and careful processes of planning, adapting, and maintaining, Atelier Hyphen (-) is connected to a growing number of spaces beyond a single intervention—balancing immediate needs with collective vision.
spaces
La Trappe
La Trappe is a collective dream unfolding in a remote French valley. An international community has been coming together here for the yearly festival of La Trappe, and is starting to organise itself since the summer of 2024 to settle into this dynamic project on the newly acquired land. The valley is open for anyone curious about a space outside of the city, to slow down, create, meet/share/learn and build something together.
Stichting VrIJland
VrIJland is a community center on IJburg beach, where Atelier Hyphen (-) has been involved in building, programming, and activating the space and community since May 2023. Through collaborative construction, a diverse program and participatory projects, VrIJland is one of the bridges between spatial practice and community.
Wooncoöperatie De Warren
Atelier Hyphen (-) is based in Wooncoöperatie De Warren, a community of 50 people in IJburg, Amsterdam. The house has many shared facilities, such as a workshop, theater space, music studio, office and much more. These spaces are built, used and maintained together. De Warren is the birthplace of many initiatives, collaborations and inspirations. De Warren is a strong and well organized community, often supporting projects, and inspiring trust in new community places through its routined organisation and open attitudes.
Other spaces
Beyond the regular places where Atelier Hyphen (-) is active, it expands into a growing network of locations and communities. New collaborations with community spaces often become new stories, resulting in lasting exchanges. Among these spaces are Ruigoord, Boerderij De Meent, Krater, Buurthuis de Bol, Buurthuis Carabic and more.