2_5_DiscoverBenelux_Issue15_March2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 20/02/2015 15:09 Page 35
Discover Benelux | Experience of the Month | Guiding Architects
of rotterdam and the spectacular, experimental new buildings are awe-inspiring.”
The authority on Belgium: ar[chi]pentage Brussels, begins Andrea Mantello from Belgium’s specialist architectural tour company ar[chi]pentage, might seem to have slightly jumbled architecture, but, he says assuredly, “this variety is also the clearest expression of the multitude of cultural groups, subcultures and economic forces that have shaped and are still forging the city. As the capital of both Europe and Belgium – two very dynamic entities – it could hardly be any different.”
LEFT: Theatre square – Antwerp, Belgium. Architect: Studio Associato Secchi & Viganò. Photo: ar[chi]pentage. RIGHT: Place Flagey – Brussels, Belgium. Architects: D+A international, Latz + Partner. Photo: Camilla Borghese.
gap between the banks of the rhine is an enormous task. The citizens, however, are rediscovering the waterfronts,” she says.
GA Paris bids you bienvenue Based in Brussels, ar[chi]pentage have the luxury of offering tours throughout the tightly-packed country. By location or theme (for example, Modern Brussels, Garden Cities and Architecture & Beer), Mantello’s company imparts their expertise and anecdotes during their tailor-made tours. As Mantello so succinctly puts it: “It is only by means of unconventional thematic entry points that visitors can truly understand why, for example, Brussels no longer has a river running through it.”
The city’s specialists: koelnarchitektur.de Described by Ira Scheibe from ArchiPedes as an “inspiringly inconsistent city”, the tours in Cologne, a cosmopolitan metropolis, expound on the juxtaposition of the city’s 2,000 year existence and its remarkably young architecture. Scheibe talks enthusiastically about the city’s current crop of urbanistic interventions: “The quest for craftsmanship has always been characteristic of the city, and maybe Zumthor’s distinctive architecture gave the final impulse for its reactivation. They are much more than just buildings, and he captures the very essence of them. This has raised the bar for future projects, such as the Jewish Museum by Wandel Hoefer Lorch, the art museum’s extension by Christ & Gantenbein, and the competition for the renewal of the Cathedral’s square.” “Old and new are not the only opposites to be brought together: trying to ‘bridge’ the
Led by architect Catherine Haas, GA Paris opts for an exciting blend of architectural and art and design tours, merging the city’s latest ventures with its rich heritage. Having spent six years as curator at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal, few can match Haas’s expertise when it comes to this densely populated urban sprawl. “More than just a beautiful city full of museums and Hausmannian architecture,” she says, “it’s a living and dynamic city with a creative contemporary architecture scene.” GA Paris offers tours of the city centre’s contemporary architecture, the east’s urban planning, the high rises of La Défense, and Le Corbusier’s impact as the historical modernist architect.
The French capital, she continues, is a fascinating case study for the collision of tradition and modernity. “It’s much more than just seeing buildings,” she interjects, before offering her perspective on the current political debate about the renovations of the Samaritaine building into a luxury hotel.
Culture-filled constructions Sharing a deeper understanding of their cities by lifting the veil on their buildings, Guiding Architects clearly have an aptitude for tour guiding, balancing expertise with stories, and fascinating features with insider knowledge. As Mantello concludes: “The stories about design become central for comprehending the city.” Despite their grime and grumbles, cities provide in-depth access to the culture exuded by their inhabitants, and what is more interesting than that? www.guiding-architects.net
BELOW LEFT: The Pavillon de l’Arsenal, the architecture and urban planning centre of Paris. Photo: Vincent Fillon. RIGHT: redevelopment of former train track and warehouse area Paris rive Gauche in the East. Photo: GA-PArIS
Alongside architectural tours, Guiding Architects can organise your entire trip, accommodation, dining and transport. www.architour.nl www.archipentage.be www.archipedes-koeln.de www.ga-paris.fr
Issue 15 | March 2015 | 35