Architecten Achtergael
Belgium

Architecten Achtergael

The strength of the office lies in the great diversity of assignments: master planning, urban design, public-private partnerships, urban planning research, residential, cultural, office and public buildings... The same level of ambition applies to both large and small projects, to the large size and the small detail, both during the design process and during execution. The overall quality starts with a critical examination of the programme of requirements and the way in which architecture relates to its surroundings and fits within the spatial and functional context. When drawing up a master plan, the main lines and principles of the complete programme of requirements are defined. After determining the phasing, these principles are worked out in a sophisticated organisation within the architecture. Striving for spatial and architectural quality is a basic design approach to realise functional, attractive and sustainable projects. Architecten Achtergael has shown in various competitions and assignments that they are able to translate complex design assignments into high-quality urban and architectural designs in the short term. The most important works include the new Courthouse in Ghent, the Rabot Youth Meeting Centre in Ghent (nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Award), the reconversion of the military hospitals in Ostend and Antwerp, the new police station in Bruges, the De Warande cultural centre in Turnhout and the new town hall in Lier. Recently, the police commissariat in Koksijde and De Gazo in Sint-Truiden were completed.