Interview with Ondřej Veselý: The Problem Solver Behind OMRT

In this interview, we sat down with Ondřej Veselý, Solution Architect at OMRT, to discuss his role, his journey with the company, and what keeps him motivated after more than five years.

Who are you, and what do you do at OMRT?

Ondřej: I’m a Solution Architect at OMRT, which means I tackle complex technical problems that arise in our projects. When we start working on a new feature or face a challenge we haven’t encountered before, I’m usually the first to brainstorm potential solutions. I collaborate closely with other developers to ensure we create something technically solid and usable for both our project developers and clients. My work involves a lot of experimentation, but also a great deal of deep thinking about the issues we face every day, whether with our studio team or on the tech development side.

So you’re like a crisis manager?

Ondřej: On the worst days, yes! But on the best days, I get to play around and innovate.

You’ve been at OMRT for quite some time. How did you get here?

Ondřej: I moved to the Netherlands to study at TU Delft, but before that, I was already working in a related field. My background is in architecture, but I’ve been mostly involved in computational design and city planning. Before coming here, I worked at a research institute in Austria, focusing on how computers can help us in designing better cities. Just a few months before moving, I was working on a project that caught the interest of Andreja. It was a generative design project for a shopping district in Dubai. When I arrived in the Netherlands, I was supposed to get in touch with him. At the time, I thought he was mainly a lecturer at TU Delft. But when I googled him again, I saw that he and Jasper had started OMRT, and they were looking for someone. So I sent an email, and soon after, I met them at the TU Delft cafeteria to discuss if I could work with them. That’s how it all started.

You were one of the first employees, right?

Ondřej: Yes, I was one of the first official employees. There were already some interns and students from TU Delft, but I was the first to join in a more permanent capacity. Initially, it was part-time while I was finishing my master’s degree.

Why have you stayed at OMRT for over five years?

Ondřej: It’s still interesting. The company has grown a lot, and with each phase, new challenges arise. I’ve also learned a huge amount along the way. Since my background is in architecture, I never had formal education in software development—I’m self-taught. As the company grew, I got a chance to develope alongside it. Each new phase brought fresh problems to solve, which kept things exciting.

Also, when I was studying, computational design seemed like just an abstract, theoretical concept. It was cool to experiment with at university, but I never imagined I’d see it applied in real-world projects at such scale. OMRT made that happen. We turned what was once just an academic exercise into a real business that benefits developers, architects, and urban planners.

So OMRT actually brings computational design into practice?

Ondřej: Exactly. We’re not just building things for fun or testing ideas in isolation. Real buildings are being designed and optimized using our tools, and that’s exciting. Seeing our work directly impact the built environment makes it all feel meaningful.

Does that add pressure?

Ondřej: Of course, every project comes with deadlines, but I’ve never felt like we’ve lost control or couldn’t deliver. We have a healthy culture around planning, which helps. One of my responsibilities is scoping out what we can and can’t do. That experience is valuable because clients sometimes don’t fully understand how our technology works. It’s up to us to guide them toward realistic expectations and the best solutions.

What do you like most about working at OMRT?

Ondřej: The team environment. Everyone is motivated to push the boundaries of what’s possible, and are excited about working at the forefront of innovation. Every project is a research question in itself, and that spirit of exploration makes OMRT a great place to work.

Many OMRT team members have backgrounds in architecture but now work in tech. Why do you think that is?

Ondřej: Architecture and computational design are naturally linked, but traditional architecture often lacks room for innovation and experimentation. A lot of us were drawn to OMRT because it allows us to apply our architectural knowledge in a more cutting-edge, tech-driven way. Here, we’re encouraged to break conventions and explore new possibilities.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from?

Ondřej: I’m from Brno, Czech Republic. I studied architecture there and did an exchange in Germany at Bauhaus Universität Weimar , which was my first real exposure to parametric design. After that, I kept working with a research group from Bauhaus, which led me to a position at a research institute in Vienna. So, while I was finishing my degree in architecture in Brno, I was also traveling to Vienna regularly for work.

What brought you to the Netherlands?

Ondřej: I always liked the Netherlands, and TU Delft is a great school. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could get in. I also followed some professors from Delft online and respected their work. Initially, I came to study urbanism, but after a year, I switched to geomatics, which focuses on spatial data processing and programming. That turned out to be a much better fit for what I do today.

Was staying in the Netherlands a conscious decision, or did it just happen?

Ondřej: A bit of both. Shortly after arriving, I met my girlfriend—now fiancée. She actually used to work at OMRT as well! That was definitely a factor in staying here. Now we live in Utrecht, and I’m happy here.

Final thoughts?

Ondřej: I’m excited to see where we go next. We’ve built something great at OMRT, and I think we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible. Every day is a new challenge, and that’s what keeps me engaged.