The architect changemaker
Instructor(s):
BC architects & studies & materials represented by : Wes Degreef, Bregt Hoppenbrouwers, Hélène Dorny
Engagement:
Craftsmanship
Location:
Brussels
Language/Taal:
English
Semester:
Semester 1, Fall 2025
Description/Inhoud:
The course is designed to challenge the traditional notion of architecture by integrating the ‘act of building’ into the process of designing.The course trains future architects to rethink reuse, embrace circular and sustainable construction, and guides students to acquire the skill of transforming collected resources into physical samples and thus, building materials. By blending creativity and technical skill, it prepares agile agents of change in the built environment.
Students will discover the French coastal region of Caps et Marais d’Opale (Nord-Pas-de-Calais)through field visits and interactions with local actors. They will learn about traditional building techniques and meet farmers and craftsmen. From the perspective of a building material researcher, they will identify regional resources and investigate their potential applications.
Sample-making, prototyping and resource-based design will constitute the core of the exercise.
Line of inquiry/Onderzoekslijn:
Context based material & building techniques / Transforming collected bioregional resources / Resource-based design
Topic, Thematic Focus/Thema:
Act of building, rehabilitate raw material, Geo- & bio-sourced materials, territory, building techniques & craftmanship
Key Questions or Provocation/ Centrale vragen en provocaties:
How do materials, construction flows and building techniques affect design ?
How can local resources become building material ?
Methodologies or Formats / Methodologie:
Fieldwork, documentation and research, material research, prototyping and sample making, hands-on design
Design / Expected Outcome(s) / Ontwerp / Verwachte Resultaten:
Understand and analyse resources and building techniques that are present in the bioregion of Caps et Marais d’Opale and, under the guidance of BC Materials and BC Architects & Studies, develop construction materials for design projects within a given case study in the village of Saint-Martin-Choquel.
Deliverables / In te dienen documenten:
Scale model, axonometry, analytic maps (resource mapping, bioregional analysis…), material samples & prototypes
- Find the full studio brief as pdf here.