Passing the torch at architectesassoc+

In 2000, after having collaborated together for almost a decade, architects Sabine Leribaux and Marc Lacour founded architectesassoc. Through a creative collaboration fueled by salutary if not comfortable confrontations between the ideals they share and the hardboiled yet endlessly inspiring constraints that exposition to the realness outside oneself provides, they have unwaiveringly called for innovative and responsible service in the practice of their profession, defended enlightened generosity hand in hand with economic viability, and pushed for environmental consciousness for the benefit of all. With the meaningful support of a long list of excellent collaborators, the office developed a vast portfolio addressing a broad panoply of sites and programs.   In 2019, after twelve years of fruitful collaboration with the two founding partners, architects Mattias D'Hooghe, Sophie Vantieghem and Sébastien Zigrand joined the partnership to form architectesassoc+.   Today, at the dawn of 2024 and almost a quarter of a century after the office’s genesis, Sabine Leribaux and Marc Lacour have decided to brave the outside –braver l’extérieur– and change paths –bifurquer– eager for and open to the dangerous otherness of what lays beyond the familiar boundaries of architectesassoc+, and intent on refocusing on engaged service as they did when they first collaborated.   At this transitional moment, following more than 16 years of fruitful collaboration of which 5 years of joint management, founding partners Sabine Leribaux and Marc Lacour pass on the torch to the new managing partners, Mattias D’Hooghe, Sophie Vantieghem and Sébastien Zigrand. Their stewardship ensures an efficient and responsible transition that upholds the strong reputation the office has cultivated since its inception. Clients can rest assured that our commitment to delivering exceptional architectural solutions remains upheld.   Looking forward, architectesassoc+ pledges to invest its full energy in shaping the future we collectively share. In an era where collaboration is paramount, we emphasize the importance of unity in creating a lasting, engaging, and inclusive built environment. Our vision is steadfast, and our working culture is deeply ingrained with a commitment to excellence, responsibility, and sustainability. The torch is passed, but the flame of architectesassoc+’s legacy burns brighter than ever, lighting the way for a future that is both visionary and enduring.

DAMES BLANCHES: SELECTED FOR COMPETITION

architectesassoc+, teaming up with architects Atelier Kempe Thill, Ney&Partners, Studie 10, PS2, Idea Consult and De Fonseca, is proud to announce that we are one of 5 partnerships selected by Brussels’ public housing developer SLRB to participate in the DAME BLANCHE competition, featuring a sustainable neighborhood with 200 new homes, a day-care center and other community amenities. Design workshops, and all those questions, should start before end 2022.

CCN: DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY

architectesassoc+ wishes to express its best blessings and extend its thanks to all those that make the ideals we strive for that much more pertinent, decent and doable. The engagements we share with you have consistently guided us, whatever the pitfalls, during an intense 2021. And at the dawn of 2022 we wonder, will it be more of the same?  For example, in our studio much of 2021 was spent wrapping up extensive evaluations of the existing CCN complex sitting atop Belgium’s busiest and best-known multimodal hub, while work shown above on the vast project replacing it was underway led by architectesassoc+, engineers Greisch, Arcadis and TPF. This intense option testing and innumerable simulations have convinced clients Atenor and AG Real Estate, and indeed all parties, that the worn-out ensemble’s flimsy structure, haphazard grid and deep dark me-centered volumes distinctly validate our albeit uncomfortable first intuitions: dismantling + newbuild is future’s best bet here. This is certainly not more of the same, and notably because the debate usually tips towards maintaining existing structures to avoid pollution and waste, like architectesassoc+’s PACHECO project shown below. But in the long haul a sustainable option in this case given the huge people-positive impact a novel reciprocity-based design is capable of offering to generations to come compared to the present 1970’s behemoth. That said it is nevertheless clear working on the CCN that dismantling not demolition will predominate, fueling the circular routes implemented.  What cannot be reused will essentially serve as sublime counter-examples of what we must no longer do, shining the light on what we must do instead this time around: design reversible, flexible, accessible to all, in a nutshell responsible. Obsessively not-me-centered, searching to connect dialogue enrich animate wherever we touch ground: entrances wide and welcoming energizing street space, shops of all sorts level with sidewalks, spilling out onto them, a continuous promenade along animated facades front back left and right, an uninterrupted canopy protecting us from wind and rain. Bus routes simplified, train and metro station accesses unscrambled. A life-filled mix of housing, offices, retail and public amenities connected by and interacting with qualified unbuilt space. Straightforward things designed hand in hand with urban planners Atelier Horizon such as sun-filled plaza’s, benches galore, tree-lined bus stops, or an uninterrupted softly sloping pedestrian mall nonchalantly herding the throngs flowing in from the canal scape beyond towards the new low-lying hub and disencumbered Gare du Nord reigning above it, its elegant light-colored stone façade overlooking a green leafy square where you can simply sit people-watch wait for friends have coffee or read a book before your train is due.  We hope 2022 will bring you as many wonderfully simple things !