Office building Square One in Geel.
The quest to create spaces for modern societies TEXT: MYRIAM DIJCK | PHOTOS: ARCHILES ARCHITECTS
Modern life requires spaces to be increasingly versatile and allow for a variety of activities to take place. For architectural design to remain relevant, it has to cater to this need and create added value. To achieve this, Archiles architects is on a quest to match its architecture to our ever-evolving society. “Archiles architects specialises in city planning, offices, public and industrial buildings,” architect manager Koen Dergent begins. “In every project we search for ways to stimulate social interaction.” “Urban areas are becoming denser and there are shifts within society: more and more, young people are looking for expe16 | Issue 71 | November 2019
riences and social connection. The right architecture can help accomplish this.” As an example, Dergent discusses the layout of a residential area. “Instead of having classic, walled gardens for every house, you can build small, private terraces and have public areas in between. Shared green spaces create a sense of openness and allow for social contact, as opposed to buildings and walls that make people feel confined.” The urban project Peperstraat is part of a strategic renewal of public spaces in the centre of Geel.
De Factorij with, among other things, a public library and a theatre that seats approximately 700 people. An important point of interest during construction was the acoustic aspect which evolved the design into a shell-shaped hall. On the other hand, ‘sustainable construction’
New hotspot for culture
In Zaventem, an ‘abandoned’ site in the centre was transformed into cultural site
The OLV College in the centre of Antwerp. Photo: Dimitri Janssens