Our ambition: involved, supported, sustainable

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Abscis Architecten wants to build the city of the future.

This contains a strong engagement.This way of thinking is part of the integral and process-oriented approach of Abscis Architecten and emphasizes the importance of spacial and societal context. To provide project-specific solutions a thorough analysis is indispensable. This means that our team really dives deep into researching the different contexts of a place. At the same time a broad study is conducted to define the way a place can and will be used. In this phase the design team develops a strong involvement into the project and the foundations are laid out to create a sustainable concept within the outlines and ambitions of the task given.

Through targeted dialogue with the client, we come to a customized project. We anchor every project in the social, economic, historical and cultural context of its environment, based on a progressive societal commitment. Architecture in the broad sense of the word is therefore seen as the organization of all these different components. Reciprocal relations amongst these components give direction to the design, taking sustainable and future-oriented vision of society into account. This leads to an interesting dialectic between the architectural intervention and the social context and requires an awareness of the impact of what we do in the pursuit of continuous added value.

A design process is always investigative and creative with room for boldness and innovation

This is how we can ensure a unique custom design is created every time. A customized design also means tailored to human beings - a design with room for the individual and the experience of architecture in its pure form. The symbiosis of delicate details and carefully chosen materials provides a broad sensory experience of the design.

A DIVERSITY OF ASSIGNMENTS

Abscis Architecten has a long tradition of participating in architecture competitions. Initially alone, as architects, later on in bigger multidisciplinary teams with engineers and more recently in consortia with (real estate) developers, financers and operators. In addition to competitions, we are also directly assigned projects, whether or not preceded by the preparation of a master plan and/or a feasibility study. This means that our clients consist of governments, private clients or real estate developers in architectural assignments, but also increasingly in hybrid collaborations such as public/private partnerships, design and build - which sometimes includes maintenance and exploitation of the project at hand.

Abscis Architecten loves a variety of projects, the field of our work extends from city to chair

Despite the great diversity, our projects do have one thing in common, they help us to realize our mission: help build the city of the future.

Throughout all projects we use the same process-based approach, with emphasis on interactive research, to arrive at a strong conceptual design. Starting from our analysis we make a first sketch, real or virtual scale models and collages until we define a synthesis. These core concepts we retain throughout the further development of the projects in CAD and later on in BIM… To finally convert the design into an actual building.

BUILDING OUR FOUNDATIONS

Established in 1988 and consisting of a multidisciplinary team of circa 45 creatives, Abscis Architecten is a mix of experienced as well as young designers who are all committed to a broad an future-oriented vision. 30 Years of experience in various sectors and on different scales is our basis for a fresh approach by a vigorous, young and dynamic team.

The three partners are in charge of the general management: architect-engineer Arthur Van Cauwenberghe, architect-engineer Pieter De Smet and architect Sofie Eggermont. The partners combine the general management with active follow-up of the projects. The make strategical decisions, decide on investments and compose a coherent team. At the same time they lead the research and design stadia of the projects and monitor Abscis Architecten’s vision and mission. It’s a well calculated balance between managing an office and the practice of architecture.

Sofie Eggermont

architect partner

Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas Ghent (1997) - Sofie is a passionate architect working at Abscis Architects since 2006. For the past 12 years she has contributed to the portfolio of Abscis Architects with a variety of assignments and competitions where creativity was key. Since 2019 she has been coordinating organisational and strategic decisions as well as project management as a partner. seg@abscis(dot)be

Pieter De Smet

architectural engineer partner

Civil Architectural Engineer, Ghent University (1999) - Pieter has been working at Abscis Architecten since 2006, at first combined with teaching architecture in higher education institutes. He aims to turn strong architectural and social ideas into reality by means of multidisciplinary collaborations and teamwork. He likes directing this proces in order to achieve excellent results. Since 2017 he has fulfilled a role as partner, combining organisational and strategic decisions with project management. pds@abscis(dot)be

Arthur Van Cauwenberghe

architectural engineer partner

Master of Science in Engineering: Architecture, Ghent University (2010) - Arthur started working for Abscis Architects in 2014 after working abroad for several years. The social commitment that led him to the craft of architecture grew into a passion for sustainable design. In 2017 he became managing partner, combining organisational and strategic decisions with the management of projects. avc@abscis(dot)be

Jeroen De Pestel

architectural engineer

Civil Architectural Engineer, Ghent University (2006)

Dirk D'Hondt

architect

Architecture - WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut Sint-Lucas, Ghent (1999)

Tim Van Herbruggen

landscape architect urban planner

Landscape Architecture, Hogeschool Gent, campus Melle (2000) - Urban and Spatial Planning, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (2004)

Heinz Rigole

architect urban planner

Architecture, WENK Hoger instituut Sint-Lucas, Ghent (1999) - Urban Planning, G.A.S.-RP, Ghent University (2000) - Atelier Publieke Ruimte, KU Leuven in collaboration with Vlaamse Stichting Verkeerskunde (2003)

Jorn De Kegel

architectural engineer

Master of Science in Engineering Sciences: Architecture, Ghent University (2015)

Teresa Martins

architect

Master's degree in Architecture, DAAUM-Architecture Department of Minho University (2007) - Postgraduate “Portuguese Urbanism History in the North of Africa”, DAAUM-Architecture Department of Minho University (2008)

Nuno Veloso

architect

Architecture, Universidade Lusiade do Porto, Portugal (2010) - Master's degree in Architecture, Universidade do Minho, Guimarães, Portugal (2013)

Mara Bauwens

architect

Master's degree in Architecture, KU Leuven Campus Ghent (2014)

Wiert Gerats

architect

Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (2009)

Piet Van Cauwenberghe

architect urban planner honorary partner

Architecture, SHIAS (1978) - Urban and Spatial Planning I.I.S.R.O. Leuven (1981) - After studying architecture and urban planning, Piet worked for several years in the urban planning department of the city of Ghent. In 1987, together with Johan Van den Driessche and Frank Van Kerckhove, he set up an agency which was named ‘ABSCIS ontwerpgroep’, which later changed to Abscis Architecten. To this day he is a managing partner and is mainly involved in urban design and competitions.

Kato Desmet

architect intern

Master's degree in Architecture, KU Leuven Campus Ghent (2021)

Lijs Leenknecht

architect intern

Master in de Architectuur, KU Leuven Campus Gent (2021)

Frank Van Kerckhove

architect honorary partner

Architecture, SHIAS (1978) - Frank worked for several years in Indonesia (NGO), Morocco (UNESCO) and Rwanda (Belgian Development Cooperation). In 1987 he became a founding partner and co-manager of Abscis Architecten. From his experience as a team player with various parties, his interest in PPP projects grew. Within Abscis he is the initiator of a wide variety of assignments and competitions.

Petia Hanssens

architectural engineer

Civil Architectural Engineer, KU Leuven (2001)

Reinier Rogiest

assistant architect

Applied Architecture, Howest Bruges (2012), Safety Coordinator Level B, KaHo Sint-Lieven (2013), EPB-reporter, SBM Campus Zwijnaarde (2016)

Marie Van den Driessche

public relations

Masters degree in visual arts, KASK (2011)

Stijn Oosterbos

architect

Master of Science in Architecture, Provinciale Hogeschool Limburg (2013)

Wannes Sucaet

architectural engineer intern

Civil Architectural Engineer, Ghent University (2021)

Nathalie De Dycker

architect

Architecture, LUCA School of Arts, Ghent (2012)

Maarten Fouquet

architectural engineer

Civil Architectural Engineer: Architecture and Urban Planning, Ghent University (2005)

Nik Mogensen

interior architect

Interior Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (1984)

Ander Delgado

architect

Degree in Architecture, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian (2017) - Master in Architecture, University of the Basque Country, San Sebastian (2018) - International Master in Sustainable Architecture, KU Leuven, Ghent (2019)

Sandra Breyne

architect

Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (2001)

Sofie Demeyere

architect

Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (2001)

Anne Cécile Poncin

architect urban planner

Master's degree in Architecture: Urban Planning, University of Liège (2015) - Postgraduate Urban and Spatial Planning, University of Liège (2016)

Bruno Blancquaert

architect

Architecture, WENK Hoger Architectuur Instituut, Sint-Lucas Ghent (2005) - Master's degree in Business Administration and Economics, Ghent University (2006)