Project name
Project data

Huis 73 - library and school for cultural education
Many houses for Huis 73

The building block Hinthamerstraat 72 and 74 will undergo a major renovation in the coming years. The reason is the fusion of two organisations that for many years have used the existing buildings independently as neighbours, the public library and the centre for art education 'de Muzerije'. The intended collaboration requires spatial adaptations: House 73 seeks as much synergy as possible between the different programmes, spaces and atmospheres. In addition, the renovation is an opportunity to make the existing buildings technically more sustainable, carry out spatial and functional improvements and overdue maintenance, and work on a new interior in line with its use as one House for all. House 73 aims to be a versatile, cultural, pleasant, inspiring place that meets all contemporary requirements.

location: Hinthamerstraat, 's Hertogenbosch
tender: 2022
design: 2022- 2024
realisation: 2024- 2026
client: Gemeente 's Hertogenbosch - STEAD Advisory
structural engineer: Goudstikker De Vries, 's Hertogenbosch
advisor technical installations: Nelissen
project management: Steven Van Dijk
quantity surveyer: Basalt
acoustics/ building physics/ fire safety: Peutz
advisor lighting: Joost de Beij
advisor wayfinding: Job Rompa

primary school Edison
renovation and expansion of two schools

The historical images of the impressive school complex on Onderwijzersstraat evoke different emotions: nostalgia, respect, admiration, but also some aversion. The pupils of that time must have felt very small. The elongated schools grandeur is awe-inspiring yet equally intimidating.


Todays perception of education and the associated spaces is much different than 100 years ago. A contemporary school must be an inspiring learning and living environment that presents itself to its surroundings with an open face, not a walled fortress. Yet in our opinion the strict school has timeless, spatial and architectural qualities that make it suitable for a meaningful transformation. Even without extensive changes, Edison can become a school that does justice to its past and at the same time complies much better than before with current educational views. The large playgrounds and gardens play an important role in this.


In our proposal, the generous, clear and symmetrical layout serves as the starting point for a contemporary school that accommodates different forms of education.

location: Hoboken, Antwerp
competition: 2018 (1st price)
design: 2018-2020
realisation: 2021-2023
client: AG Vespa
structural engineer: Goudstikker De Vries, 's Hertogenbosch
advisor technical installations: RCR, Herent
contractor: TM ACH Bouw - Floré - De Molen
illustrations: Rotraut Susanne Berner

Living, working and learning in the productive city
citygate Brussels - a l’île

Biestebroeck was, is, and will be a place of production, initiative and activity. A place where working, learning, living coexist side by side. A place for everyone, a neighborhood for all.

Together with AHA, noArchitects and Sergison Bates Architects, we are working on the Citygate II / Petite Île project in Brussel after a competition won in 2019. Over the next few years, a new district with 400 flats, 15,000 m2 of workspace and a large school complex consisting of several buildings will be developed in Biestebroeck, a former industrial area in Anderlecht. The project is part of the 'Canal Plan' of the Brussels city architect, which specifically focuses on the idea of the productive city aiming at lively and productive city neighbourhoods with mixed programmes for working, producing, learning and living.

clients: SLRB/ City Dev/ Foyer Anderlechtois
collaborating architects: AHA (Aurelie Hachez/Elseline Bazin); Sergison Bates Architects SBA; NoA Architects; Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten
design team A l’île: Boom landscape Amsterdam, landscape; Detang, consultant technical installations; Groep D, consultant structural design; Daidalos Peutz, consultant acoustics; ELD, consultant costs and specifications
programme: ca. 400 apartments; ca 15000m2 workshops; school complex (kindergarden - secondary school); offices
competition: 2019, BMA Brussels
building application: 2021
tender: 2022/ 2023
realisation: 2024- 2027
illustrations: collaborating architects, with special thanks to Nora Walter and Elke Schoonen (NoA Architects)

Het Predikheren- Mechelen Public Library
library within baroque walls

The baroque Predikherenklooster, or Dominican Monastery, is a more than impressive building. In 2011, after several failed attempts to repurpose the ruins of the monastery, the city decided to restore the historic landmark building and turn it into a public library, which will open in the autumn of 2018.

Before the restoration work began, the monastery and adjacent church were a harsh, monolithic block; for many years the expressive texture of the derelict façades told passers-by an enigmatic story of its tormented history.

The baroque monastery was built starting in 1650 and was deconsecrated at the end of the 18th century. In the 19th and 20th centuries it was mainly used for military purposes and has been abandoned since 1975. Together with the neighbouring buildings, the new Holocaust Museum, the Kaserne Dossin and the new Tinelpark, the Predikherenklooster is part of an ambitious development on the edge of the city center: the Tinelsite.

We developed our design for the library in the Predikherenklooster with the utmost respect for the particular characteristics of the existing edifice. The programming, the spatial design, our concept for the restoration as well as the design of the technical installations, and all structural interventions are intended to preserve and reinforce these characteristics.


location: Predikherenklooster, Goswin de Stassartstraat, Mechelen (BE)
design: 2011-2012
realisation: since 2015 THV Korteknie Stuhlmacher Architecten | Bureau Bouwtechniek | Callebaut Architecten
competition: 1st prize, Open Call Flanders 2213, competition in collaboration with Hildundk, Munich
restoration architects: Callebaut Architecten
technical advisor: Bureau Bouwtechniek
client: City of Mechelen
structural engineer: ABT Antwrepen
advisor - technical installations: RCR Herent
contractor: Renotec (roof and façades), Monument (interior)
photography: Luuk Kramer

Secondary school Labors
urban school village

In an inner courtyard behind the Lakborslei in Deurne, we are building a large new school. Because of the strange shape and the tight dimensions of the available lot, the many neighbours and urban planning regulations the ambitions of the client and reality do not seem to fit together at first sight. Nevertheless, the sheltered location offers surprising possibilities for a green and homely learning and living environment.

location: Deurne, Antwerp
competition: 1st prize
year: 2016
client: SO Antwerpen with AG Vespa
structural engineer: Util Brussel
engineer - technical installations: Ingenium Brugge
technical advisor - competition phase: Jan Piet vd Weele

youth facility Everaertsstraat Antwerp
youthful backyard

How do we transform a narrow and fully built courtyard in a densely populated neighbourhood into a green and inspiring learning and living environment? How do we build a school on such a location that feels like a home to children and young people from totally different backgrounds? And how do we ensure that both indoor and outdoor spaces are generous, sturdy and light enough to stimulate appropriation and initiative?


Municipal Education Antwerp urgently needs additional school capacity in its inner city districts. The municipality therefore organised an invited competition for a combined school for young children and spaces for youth groups in Antwerp North making use of an existing property. Having won the competition we will transform a number of existing buildings, including a former factory building into a spacious multifunctional facility for the youth. On the adjacent eastern part of the site we replace several structures of lesser quality with a new playground, a new gym and purpose built classrooms for the youngest and oldest children of the new school community.

location: Antwerp BE
status: competition design, 1st prize
installation and sustainability advisor: JanPiet vd Weele
illustrations: Rotraut Susanne Berner