RWG 2 - 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

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RWG 2
Duurzame renovatie sociale wooneenheden Meierij
Thuispunt Gent
Ghent (B), 2022–2027
13.500 m²

The site is defined by a green landscape and an isolated character. While circulation for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians is well-organized, the surrounding public space remains undefined and poorly used. This is a common issue in large-scale post-war housing like the Meierij block, where the absence of an intermediate scale causes a disconnect between the building and its residents. Without a sense of ownership, public space deteriorates, inviting neglect and vandalism. Still, traces of community effort appear: a playground, picnic benches, and a skate park suggest the desire for a more livable neighborhood. This project aims to support and strengthen those efforts. The ground floor becomes a key connector. By opening and activating the base of the building, it can serve as a welcoming interface between living and public life. Space and light play a crucial role in this transition. Car traffic currently separates the building from adjacent green areas. By minimizing hard surfaces and prioritizing pedestrian paths, the project reintegrates the building into the landscape. Parking and storage are reimagined within existing warehouse structures, preserving the site’s history. Above all, this is an investment in social housing, not only in physical infrastructure, but in creating a resilient, shared living environment.

In collaboration with Denkbar, Tech3