He began his career in science and experimental mathematics, and transitioned into architecture. He is Founding Principal of bureau SLA, an Amsterdam-based firm focused on the necessity of transitioning to a circular economy through design. The studio does not wait for commissions to be given, but builds and develops in the city in an innovative way — from their own initiatives and with their own team.

Peter van Assche is Chairman of the Committee for Architectural Review in Utrecht, Supervisor for the Utrecht station area and Professor of Architecture & Circular Thinking at the Academy of Architecture, Amsterdam. He received a Master of Information Technology (cum laude) from the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven (TU/e) and obtained his architecture degree from the Rotterdam Academy of Architecture.

He was Visiting Professor at Erfurt and at Cornell universities and, since 2022, at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Peter van Assche was a member of the Academic Body at the Norman Foster Foundation Cities: Affordable Housing Workshop 2022 supported by the Holcim Foundation.