BTL - Ura

About

URA is located in Brussels and is characterized by a broad spectrum of projects, varied both in scale and function. 'UR'-the name of the first city- supports a way of working. URA searches for universal, basic typologies and transforms them into a contemporary and precise identity in a specific context. The universal lies within the very specific. URA is led by two partners, Yves Malysse and Kiki Verbeeck.

YVES MALYSSE (°1973) [email protected]

graduated from the Sint-Lucas Institute of Architecture in Ghent. He has worked with MVRDV in Rotterdam and Jo Crepain in Antwerp, and with stage designer Bart Clement. He was a visiting professor at TU Delft and at the Academy for Architecture in Rotterdam. Since 2012 he has been a professor at LUCA School of Arts, Faculty of Architecture, in Brussels and Ghent..

KIKI VERBEECK (°1974) [email protected]

Graduated from the Sint-Lucas Institute of Architecture in Ghent and specialized in Architectural Theory at KU Leuven. She has worked in Paris with uapS and Labfac, in Rotterdam with OMA, and in Brussels for Baines and Advisers. She was guest professor at LUCA School of Arts, Faculty of Architecture Ghent and at KU Leuven, Department of Architecture.

COLLABORATORS

Benny Geerinckx (°1975) [email protected]
Michiel van der Loos (°1986) [email protected]
Carmen Vandermolen (°1992) [email protected]
Tuomas Peippo (°1995) [email protected]
Louis Lories (°1995) [email protected]
François Vande Perre (°1994) [email protected]
Paul Tschritter (°1996) [email protected]
Warre Delaplace (°2000) [email protected]
Sem De Boer (°1999 ) [email protected]
Tim De Munck (°1996 ) [email protected]
Maurits Bosman Bahamón (°1995 ) [email protected]
Eva Vossaert (°1996 ) [email protected]

FORMER COLLABORATORS

Vincent Vergote / Eva Vermeulen / Soetkin Devolder / Bram Van Sever / Ruben Otter / Jonathan Vanhove / Lisa De Keuleneire / Egon Pollers / Milène Senden / Pauline Truyens / Heleen Eskens / Mathieu Jeukens / Sindri Sigurðsson / Jasper Aerts / Eva Lo / Ruth Van de steene / Ana Horvat / Tim Belaen / Maarten Lambrechts / Charlotte Biesbrouck / Felice Van Tieghem / Marius Vaneeckhoutte / Pauline Durand / Florence Mareen / Lisa Van Com / Jonathan Robert Maj / Isaura Doumen / Jeroen Kessels / Diane Engels / Anton Parys / Harold Vermeiren / Wim Dirickx / Alexander Smedts / Adeline de Vrij / Kaat Volckaert / Pieter Burssens / Tom Broes / Garin Boghossian / Jan de Moffarts / Elena Dragu / Dora Freier / Sila Giriftinoglu / Carlota Marchena Lopez / Frederic Karam / Laura Navarro / Pablo Olmeda Puertas / Angel Pérez Rojas / Olivier Roegiest / Sara Rondou / Giulia Scirocchi / Lorenzo Stroobant / Toon Vanobbergen / Gaspard Van Parys / Francis Vanden Baviere / Mira de Middeleer / Sofie Lieben / Sofie Liesenborghs / Andrea Neri / Alessandro Luraschi

Text

BTL
Kindergarten and primary school De Telescoop
GO! Flemish education system
Laeken (B), 2015–2020
1.800 m²

In the middle of a dense urban area, on the hinge between Brussels and the Royal Gardens, a new school typology is developed. An interaction between two building typologies gives a dynamic to the school. On the Square Desmaré, a clear entrance is marked by opening the perspective to the heart of the site. A superposition of three different functions gives the building a tension between transparency and and solidity. On the top floor, a multi-purpose sportshall is placed with a view to both square and church. On the Avenue du Parc Royal, a nineteenth century townhouse is being reconverted into a kindergarten, designed as a vertical street, connected by stairs. A collection of different classrooms gives view to the collective wintergarden, while also a view to the formal street, heading to the Royal Palace.

In collaboration with Landinzicht, Util, Hp engineers, Daidalos-Peutz
Photos by Filip Dujardin