2_DiscoverBenelux_Issue21_Sep_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 28/08/2015 21:22 Page 14
Discover Benelux | Architecture | Gilles Fostier / Be Designer
Simplicity and modernity With a style that brings together the identity of a place and the personality of its occupants, Be Designer has proved time and time again the originality of its creative power, from reorganising the interior space of a loft to refreshing the looks of a family house. TEXT: BETTINA GUIRKINGER | PHOTOS: GILLES FOSTIER / BE DESIGNER
For as long as he can remember, Gilles Fostier, founder of Be Designer, was bound to become an architect. “One of my earliest memories as a child was to draw plans for the house we were renovating. As I got older, I decided to pursue studies in art and eventually graduated with a diploma in interior design.” While initially working for an architectural firm, it soon became clear to Fostier that his growing clientele required him to build his own enterprise and follow his instincts when it came to the creation of an interior space. “I have always valued the client’s desires and vision of the end product. It is team work from beginning to end. Our team will be adjusting until the client is fully satisfied.”
Co-creative work The creative process begins with the first meeting with the client, and for Fostier, every-
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thing comes down to preparation: “there have been times when we have arrived to the meeting with four different sketches with different possible combinations, materials and dispositions. We would put the kitchen at the front of the house or at the back – each time highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each choice so that our client is fully aware of what he or she is going for. We then cut down the sketches to two and finally agree on the final one.” On top of this, the team draws on the lifestyle of the client to fit their needs and personality: “A space would be organised very differently depending on whether the client is single or in a couple, with or without children… a lot of factors are taken into account,” says Fostier. The external look is just as important as the internal one, which is why Be Designer makes sure to stay true to the immediate context to produce an ensemble that is har-
monious and modern. “Every building has its own history and our job is to awaken the chemistry between the space and the customer.” This can go from the general feel of the house to the choice of specific materials. “We specialise in an architecture that is contemporary but not ‘cold’, which means that we tend to opt for soft materials with simple shapes. Wood and cement are our favourites in making a space welcoming and cosy.”
When drawings come to life “We operate through a process of back and forths with the client to refine the plans. We first agree on a general division of the space and we then proceed to sort out the different details of the kitchen, living room, light, heating and so on,” explains Fostier. A particularly exciting project undertaken by Be Designer is the ‘Project Fabriques’ – an old mansion in the centre of Brussels turned