BOUWAANVRAAG

20250403-20250420
Presentation of BOUWAANVRAAG at 019-ghent; based on an ongoing spatial exercise since 2021.

BOUWAANVRAAG is a series of building applications in Ghent & Brussels aiming to refurbish the urban fabric and make the city more joyful and green. It is a playful artistic action questioning the existing spatial quality and its driving power structures. It is grounded in a sense of responsibility; our personal ability to respond; it courageously aims to make 'the whole' better.

BOUWAANVRAAG takes position and dares to speak out loud what is whispered. From the urgency to deal radically differently with open space today, Bouwaanvraag takes action. It submits unsolicited building applications to urban planning departments. In this way, BOUWAANVRAAG questions the waiting position of the architect, self-interest and administrative obstacles, and thus breaks open the conversation about qualitative public space. The attitude in design is the starting point, the strength of architectural practice the means.

BOUWAANVRAAG is a collaboration between Lauren Dierickx, Laura Muyldermans, Sander Rutgers and Olivier Goethals. The project is subsidized by the Flemish Community and came about thanks to the support of UGent-Vakgroep Architectuur en Stedenbouw, KULeuven Departement Architectuur & the Stadsbouwmeester Gent.

Thanks to all students who helped us out during Summerclass 2021 (UGent & KULeuven). Project made possible with the kind support of Flanders.

Online interview at KOOZ here.
URBIS Beukenbos is selected for Ghent architecture price 2024 (second price).
BOUWAANVRAAG is also presented in Flanders Architectural Review N°16: Responses in Responsibility.
BLOEMBAKGEVEL was approved for implementation by the city of Ghent.