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) yves.malysse@ura.be

Studied Architecture at Sint-Lucas, Ghent (BE). Worked for Robert Winkel, MVRDV, Bart Clement and Jo Crepain. Visiting Professor at TU Delft (2006-2007) and Academie voor Bouwkunst Rotterdam (2008-2009). Since 2002 he is Jury Member for several Architecture Schools and Institutions in Belgium and abroad.

KIKI VERBEECK (°1974) kiki.verbeeck@ura.be

Studied Architecture at Sint-Lucas Ghent (BE) and Architectural Sciences at KU Leuven (BE). Worked for uapS, OMA, LABFAC, Bernard & Georges Baines and Advisers. Visiting Professor at Sint-Lucas Ghent (2006) and currently teaching at KU Leuven (2010-...). Since 2005 she is Jury Member for several Architecture Schools and Institutions in Belgium and abroad.

COLLABORATORS

Benny Geerinckx (°1975) benny.geerinckx@ura.be
Michiel van der Loos (°1986) michiel.vanderloos@ura.be
Bram Van Sever (°1991) bram.vansever@ura.be
Carmen Vandermolen (°1992) carmen.vandermolen@ura.be
Egon Pollers (°1994) egon.pollers@ura.be
Lisa De Keuleneire (°1995) lisa.dekeuleneire@ura.be
Soetkin Devolder (°1995) soetkin.devolder@ura.be
Jonathan Vanhove (°1993) jonathan.vanhove@ura.be
Vincent Vergote (°1994) vincent.vergote@ura.be
Milène Senden (°1996) milene.senden@ura.be
Tuomas Peippo (°1995) tuomas.peippo@ura.be
Eva Vermeulen (°1997) eva.vermeulen@ura.be
Louis Lories (°1995) louis.lories@ura.be

FORMER COLLABORATORS

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 and Daidalos-Peutz
Photos by Filip Dujardin