The agency's history dates back to 1929. That's when B. Merkelbach (1901-1961) with C.J.F. Karsten (1904-1979) to form Merkelbach and Karsten, Architects. This collaboration ended in 1949. From 1949 to 1955, P. Elling (1897-1962) was Merkelbach's new partner and the firm was called Merkelbach and Elling, Architects. In 1955, Merkelbach left the association and changed the name to Prof. P. Elling architect B.N.A.. In 1956, Elling continued the firm. F. Fortgens was chef de bureau and K. Visser and A. van Gelderen were employed there. The office was housed at 574 Keizersgracht. This building was owned by Karsten. When he sold the property, the bureau moved to Keizersgracht 277 in 1961. After the death of Elling in 1962, A. van Gelderen and K. Visser took over the bureau, the name of the bureau changed to: Bureau Elling, Visser and Van Gelderen. In 1965 the bureau moved to Westeinde 12 in Amsterdam. From 1964 to 1977 A. de Leeuw and H.C. Hoogewoning were also part of the bureau and the name was: Bureau Elling, Visser, Van Gelderen, De Leeuw and Hoogewoning and finally from 1979 to 1998 the bureau was called Bureau Elling BV Visser Van Gelderen architects BNA.