Bnieuws x INDESEM
INTERVIEW JAN DIERCKX: 10 MINUTES WITH AN ARCHITECT Words Louisa Hollander
On a sunny Tuesday afternoon, Valentin and I sat behind our computer in the INDESEM office to connect with Jan Dierckx, a design technologist specializing in new materials and the application of robotics in architecture. We had a conversation with him to learn more about what technology and data can mean for the future of our field.
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What’s your name? Jan Dierckx
Inspirational architect? Norman Foster.
Describe yourself as an architect in one word. Innovative.
Must have architecture tools everyone should have? 3D mouse.
Where did you study? A bit everywhere. So I started in Gent Belgium, then in Aachen in Germany then at UCL in the United Kingdom.
Best piece of advice you’ve received? Use the right tool for the right purpose.
What was your favorite subject? Computer aided design. What was your first job? I was in the Specialist Modelling Group at Foster + Partners. How do you start your day? A coffee and some Reddit. What’s your favourite time of the day? Definitely the evening, I am a night owl.
A book that everyone should read? Shoedog, it’s about the founder of Nike and how he set up the company from zero. How do you define a successful building? A building which takes little from the environment, but gives back a lot to society. Favorite color? Red. Fineliner, pencil or computer? Digital pencil.
Dream country to visit? New Zealand.
Most gratifying thing about being an architect? Looking at a completed building and being able to say you were part of designing and building that.
Classic or contemporary? Contemporary, but learning from the classics.
What color clothing do you wear the most? I rarely wear black.
