Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

ARCHITECTURE - URBAN DESIGN

As a designer, I am mostly interested in the overlap between architecture and urbanism. In my opinion, these two cannot be seperated from one another as they both have influence on the way they are characterized and perceived.

The complexity of current challenges for our cities and people asks for an integrated and multidisciplinary approach which i would like to be a part of.

Societal and spatial contexts form the basis of my design choices and working in a team is very important to me.

I like to surround myself with people that can inspire me and I am always eager to learn new things.

ARCHITECTURE

SELECTED

Urban Roof

Bachelor project - 2014

In this project a specific site was chosen in the city of Gent to introduce an urban roof that strengthens the social interaction and gives a new meaning to the existing square.

In contrast to the static environment, a new structure that references nature - almost like a bird spreading it’s wings - lands on a strategic place which connects two seperate squares. A multifunctional city-hall with a minimal amount of supports creates a new dynamic that will enhance the functionality of the place.

Dreamscape

Bachelor project - 2015

What would a city of dreams look like?

A dream can be seen as a composition of memories. We create new worlds and perspectives with images taken from our reality. This exercise explores the idea visually by creating new cityscapes made up of existing buildings, similar to what happens while dreaming.

Pictures were taken from specific buildings I often encountered while growing up and which are engraved in my memory. From these pictures a 3D pointcloud was created through a photoscan application. Much like dreams these pointclouds are not complete or vague. New “dreamscapes” were created by putting those images together as a collage of memories.

Rethinking the city campus

Master project - 2018

As the existing campuses were getting overcrowded, the faculty of architecture in Gent was searching for new university buildings. Eventually settling in an old post office building near the city centre, the exercise consisted of reimagining this building to meet the standards of a design school.

Stripping the construction from it’s unsuitable elements and starting from the naked concrete structure, a new identity, facade and spatial layout was created that emphasized the contrast between the existing raw structure and the new light and transparant materials. A flexible and open

EAST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

Integration

Master project - 2019

Building overview

Technical rooms

Cores and shafts

Research question : How to integrate the technical aspects into the “backbone” of the project

Public connection

STRUCTURE

MASTERPLAN

2018

Bachelor’s thesis

NO CONTEXT

The bachelor’s thesis project consisted of two separate exercises. The first one was a conceptual design without context, to research the meaning of contemporary religious architecture in the 21st century.

Should it resemble the diversity of a multicultural society or should it be a general space of spirituality?

Proces images :

CONTEXT

The main exercise of the bachelor’s project was to imagine a new future for Doel, a small village near Antwerp that was threatened by new developments of the nearby industry.

Current state:

Future state:

Traditional Contemporary New archetype

2020

Master’s thesis

For the final project of my student carreer in architecture, the city of Zagreb in Croatia was chosen as subject for my research. After the analysis of the spatial and societal context a specific site was chosen to implement a large public building that would create an added value to the surroundings.

Zagreb is characterized by a long industrial history, these important relics are part of the local identity but abandoned industrial areas can effect the quality of the environment.

Redevelopment of post-industrial sites could be the answer to a new type of urbanism.

CONCEPT

DESIGN

A new centrality

A new identity

Context integration

Public accessibility

Redevelopment of industrial heritage

Introducing new architecture to organise the spatial layout

Introducing new architecture to create a landmark

URBAN DESIGN

SELECTED

2021

A new heart for ‘t Dokske

‘t Dokske is an area of the municipality Merksem near Antwerp which has been in decline for some time due to the growth of the urban fabric and the nearby industry. Research consisting of fieldwork and different analysis was made and formed the foundation of our design. The main challenge was to integrate qualitative public space, housing and workplaces and how they could strengthen each other.

Reimagining existing blocks

A new park at the centre

Overview of research area

New collective yard for existing inhabitants

Elderly friendly route through existing urbans blocks

A new industrial area with qualitative public spaces

A new heart for Merksem ‘t Dokske

A new heart for Merksem ‘t Dokske

Redevelopment of industrial heritage and strengthening the green-blue network

2022

Master’s thesis

Reconversion of the Electrabelsite in Aalst

Societal and spatial trends have a major influence on the discourse of spatial planning. Increasing urbanization and the related demographic growth caused many cities to have reached their capacity. The quest for more efficient use of space is stimulated by spatial policy by paying more attention to the redevelopment of brownfields. The repurposing of former industrial sites forms a unique opportunity to limit the use of space and to revalue deprived neighbourhoods. In this way we can contribute to a high-quality living and working environment that takes the cultural and historical heritage into account.

On the basis of qualitative research methods such as a literature study, case studies, a spatial analysis and research by design, a proposal is elaborated to create a new future for the abandoned Electrabelsite in Aalst.

In this project, exceptional attention has been paid to anchoring the site within the wider context and creating a new identity that responds to the history of the place. The design shows how this enclosed site can be integrated into the environment and increase the connections, showing how the heritage can be given a new meaning that will restore the value of the building.

Concept image

Section through the site

Sections of an elevated bycicle path

View on repurposed industrial building from housing area

A building within a green environment

Example of reusing possibilities of industrial relics

Qualitative areas next to the water

Elevated bycicle path through the park connecting important areas

PROCES

Community Service Learning

2022

As students of Urban Planning, how can we assist existing processes in reality?

The city of Herentals is struggling to reach a consensus about the future of an important area of it’s city. The ‘Gekoro’ is an organisation that does research and strategic urban interventions to provoke a reaction and have political influence.

For one semester we were part of this organisation and gathered our thoughts about this sensitive urban area. Eventually we created a mobile installation which could be used as a platform to exchange ideas and opinions. In this way we tried to act as a mediator between the different stakeholders in the hope that a consensus would be found.

Model building