about Crateo
Wind as a design parameter
Wind problems often only become visible when it is too late.
In many urban high-rise projects, wind is only assessed when the design is already finalized. At that point, wind nuisance or hazards immediately lead to redesign, delays, or additional measures. Municipal assessment (such as NEN 8100) then becomes a risk rather than a confirmation.
Crateo was founded in 2026 by Dimitrios van der Werff based on the conviction that things need to change.
Wind as a design parameter
By providing insight into wind at an early stage, room is created to:
- to eliminate risks in advance
- to substantiate design choices
- to implement iterations quickly
- to prevent delays in later phases
Crateo applies CFD simulations in a way that aligns with the design process. Not as a static final report, but as a means to guide choices.
Distinctiveness
Early involvement in the design process
Analysis already at the mass study level, when adjustments are still impactful and cost-effective.
Speed and iteration
No waiting weeks for a single result, but multiple design variants quickly made visible.
Technical depth
Based on expertise and advanced CFD methods.
Clear advice
Clear advice regarding wind and in line with regulations.
Gain
- Reduced design risk
- Greater chance of approval by municipalities
- More efficient collaboration between architect and consultant
- Preventing costly adjustments in late stages
Areas of application
- High-rise buildings and urban densification
- Station areas and public spaces
- Commercial plinths and entrances
- Complex building volumes with wind-sensitive zones
Positioning
Crateo operates at the intersection of:
- engineering (CFD, aerodynamics)
- design (architecture, urban planning)
With the aim of: making wind an integral part of design decisions early in the design process.
Over Crateo
Wind as a design parameter
Wind problems often only become visible when it is too late.
In many urban high-rise projects, wind is only assessed when the design is already finalized. At that point, wind nuisance or hazards immediately lead to redesign, delays, or additional measures. Municipal assessment (such as NEN 8100) then becomes a risk rather than a confirmation.
Crateo was founded in 2026 by Dimitrios van der Werff based on the conviction that things need to change.
Wind as a design parameter
By providing insight into wind at an early stage, room is created to:
- to eliminate risks in advance
- to substantiate design choices
- to implement iterations quickly
- to prevent delays in later phases
Crateo applies CFD simulations in a way that aligns with the design process. Not as a static final report, but as a means to guide choices.
Distinctiveness
Early involvement in the design process
Analysis already at the mass study level, when adjustments are still impactful and cost-effective.
Speed and iteration
No waiting weeks for a single result, but multiple design variants quickly made visible.
Technical depth
Based on expertise and advanced CFD methods.
Clear advice
Clear advice regarding wind and in line with regulations.
Gain
- Reduced design risk
- Greater chance of approval by municipalities
- More efficient collaboration between architect and consultant
- Preventing costly adjustments in late stages
Areas of application
- High-rise buildings and urban densification
- Station areas and public spaces
- Commercial plinths and entrances
- Complex building volumes with wind-sensitive zones
Positioning
Crateo operates at the intersection of:
- engineering (CFD, aerodynamics)
- design (architecture, urban planning)
With the aim of: making wind an integral part of design decisions early in the design process.
Profile Dimitrios van der Werff
Wind Expert
You want to work with someone who can not only calculate wind, but also understands how it affects your design.
You are not looking for a standard analysis, but someone who:
- understands where you are in the process
- can contribute to design choices
- can switch quickly when the design changes
My background
My educational background is in Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft, specializing in aerodynamics. I worked on wind tunnel measurements of an EMBRAER aircraft wing in Brazil and optimized the aerodynamics of a sportscar, the Spyker C8, during my graduation.
Formula 1 as a dream
Things turned out differently; in 2007 (the year of graduation), an economic recession began. Budgets in the automotive industry shrank, and entry-level positions were scarce.
After graduating, I worked for several months at Actiflow (a company specializing in CFD with an automotive focus), but there too, due to the prevailing recession, a shift began towards the construction sector in particular. Over the past 18 years, I have addressed many challenging flow-related issues at DGMR, a major engineering firm in the construction industry, specializing in the impact of (high-rise) building plans on the wind climate in urban environments. The common thread during that period was analyzing, assessing, and optimizing the wind climate around new building plans and high-rise developments, often as an essential part of the environmental permit.
This still concerned the aerodynamic performance of a design.
However, in the city, it is not about lap times or the lift coefficients of an airplane wing, but about comfort, safety, and quality of life. It is about squares where people want to sit on a terrace, shopping streets where people can stroll in a relaxed manner, and bike paths where you don't want to be blown off your bike.
In 2026, I decided to start my own business: Crateo.
Crateo was born from the desire to have more control over content, strategy, and quality. Additionally, it's a conscious step to continue pursuing entrepreneurship and to keep developing myself. This combination results in an engaged and goal-oriented approach, allowing me to optimally support my clients.
About me
People I have worked with see me as a responsible and loyal team player with perseverance. I work autonomously but remain connected, have my own opinion, and listen to others. I focus on the big picture but am also detail-oriented. Proactive and forward-thinking, I realize the importance of collaboration. I maintain an overview and work pragmatically.
What you can expect from me
I apply that my knowledge to the built environment, including at:
- wind studies around high-rise buildings
- analyses of wind nuisance and wind hazard
- complex flow issues in an urban context
You don't get abstract results, but applicable insight:
- where risks arise in your design
- why they arise (flow mechanisms)
- which adjustments have an effect
This makes it possible to:
- to make targeted design choices
- to substantiate discussions with stakeholders
- to arrive at a robust design faster
How I work
The collaboration is tailored to your process:
Speed where necessary
Results that align with design milestones, not weeks later.
Iterative
Adapting to design changes.
Insight-oriented
Visualizations and conclusions that are immediately usable.
Technically substantiated
Based on physics and validated CFD methodology.
When this is of value
Especially in projects where:
- design freedom is under pressure
- multiple stakeholders are involved
- substantiation to the municipality is required
- risks must be manageable at an early stage
Profile Dimitrios van der Werff
Wind Expert
You want to work with someone who can not only calculate wind, but also understands how it affects your design.
You are not looking for a standard analysis, but someone who:
- understands where you are in the process
- can contribute to design choices
- can switch quickly when the design changes
My background
My educational background is in Aerospace Engineering at TU Delft, specializing in aerodynamics. I worked on wind tunnel measurements of an EMBRAER aircraft wing in Brazil and optimized the aerodynamics of a sportscar, the Spyker C8, during my graduation.
Formula 1 as a dream
Things turned out differently; in 2007 (the year of graduation), an economic recession began. Budgets in the motorsport industry shrank, and entry-level positions were scarce.
After graduating, I worked for several months at Actiflow (a company specializing in CFD with an automotive focus), but there too, due to the prevailing recession, a shift began towards the construction sector in particular. Over the past 18 years, I have addressed many challenging flow-related issues at DGMR, a major engineering firm in the construction industry, specializing in the impact of (high-rise) building plans on the wind climate in urban environments. The common thread during that period was analyzing, assessing, and optimizing the wind climate around new construction plans and high-rise developments, often as an essential part of the environmental permit.
This still concerned the aerodynamic performance of a design.
However, in the city, it is not about lap times or the lift coefficients of an airplane wing, but about comfort, safety, and quality of life. It is about squares where people want to sit on a terrace, shopping streets where people can stroll in a relaxed manner, and bike paths where you don't want to be blown off your bike.
In 2026, I decided to start my own business: Crateo.
Crateo was born from the desire to have more control over content, strategy, and quality. Additionally, it's a conscious step to continue pursuing entrepreneurship and to keep developing myself. This combination results in an engaged and goal-oriented approach, allowing me to optimally support my clients.
About me
People I have worked with see me as a responsible and loyal team player with perseverance. I work autonomously but remain connected, have my own opinion, and listen to others. I focus on the big picture but am also detail-oriented. Proactive and forward-thinking, I realize the importance of collaboration. I maintain an overview and work pragmatically.
What you can expect from me
I apply that knowledge to the built environment, including at:
- wind studies around high-rise buildings
- analyses of wind nuisance and wind hazard
- complex flow issues in an urban context
You don't get abstract results, but applicable insight:
- where risks arise in your design
- why they arise (flow mechanisms)
- which adjustments have an effect
This makes it possible to:
- to make targeted design choices
- to substantiate discussions with stakeholders
- to arrive at a robust design faster
How I work
The collaboration is tailored to your process:
Speed where necessary
Results that align with design milestones, not weeks later.
Iterative
Adapting to design changes.
Insight-oriented
Visualizations and conclusions that are immediately usable.
Technically substantiated
Based on physics and validated CFD methodology.
When this is of value
Especially in projects where:
- design freedom is under pressure
- multiple stakeholders are involved
- substantiation to the municipality is required
- risks must be manageable at an early stage
