Office Kersten Geers David Van Severen

About

OFFICE @ Tine Cooreman 2008

OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen was founded in 2002 by Kersten Geers and David Van Severen. OFFICE is renowned for its idiosyncratic architecture, in which realisations and theoretical projects stand side by side. The projects are direct, spatial and firmly rooted in architectural theory. The firm reduces architecture to its very essence and most original form: a limited set of basic geometric rules is used to create a framework within which life unfolds out in all its complexity.

Since its establishment OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen has earned a reputation as one of Belgium’s most successful and renowned practices, and one of the world’s truly original voices in present-day architecture. OFFICE engages in all architectural and urbanist design, creating projects of all scales ranging from furniture to masterplanning in Belgium as well as internationally. This practice is combined with academic research and teaching. These two aspects of OFFICE’s work are explicitly each other’s mirror, creating unexpected parallels between academic and practical work.

Biographies

Kersten Geers

(Ghent, 1975) graduated in Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Ghent, Belgium and at the Esquela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid, Spain. He worked with Maxwan Architects and Urbanists and with Neutelings Riedijk Architects in Rotterdam. He was professor at the University of Ghent, and visiting professor at Columbia University, NYC, and the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio (CH), and is currently teaching at the EPFL, Lausanne (CH) and Harvard Graduate School of Design (US). He is a founding member of the architecture magazine San Rocco.

David Van Severen

(Ghent, 1978) graduated in Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Ghent, Belgium and at the Esquela Tecnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid, Spain. Since 1995 he designed and made several objects, installations and furniture. He worked with Stéphane Beel Architects, Xaveer De Geyter Architects and for Atelier Maarten Van Severen. He was a teacher and guest critic at the Academy of Amsterdam, the TU Delft, and the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam (NL) and the Architecture School of Versailles (FR), and he’s currently guest tutor at  Harvard Graduate School of Design (US).

Publications

Monographies

  • Besides, History: Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers, David Van Severen. Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal, CA. Catalog edited by Giovanna Borasi. Contributed by Giovanna Borasi, Stefano Graziani, Bas Princen, Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers & David Van Severen. 15 x 21 cm. 208 p. With 121 (92 color) ills., Paperback. Published by König Books and Kajima Institute (Japanese edition).
EL CROQUIS 185: OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen

Exhibitions

Current & upcoming exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

  • ‘E Depois, A Historia / Besides, History – Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers, David Van Severen‘ in Serralves Foundation, Porto, PT. June 28 – October 15 2018
  • ‘The Hull of a Large Ship’, Barbican Centre, London, UK. 18 May – 11 Nov 2018
  • ‘Besides, History: Go Hasegawa, Kersten Geers, David Van Severen’, in CCA, Montréal, CA, 9 May 2017 – 15 Oct 2017
  • ‘Everything Architecture’, in Architectural Association, London, UK, 29 Apr 2017 – 25 May 2017
  • ‘Everything Architecture’, in centre d’architecture arc-en-rêve, Bordeaux, FR, 3 Nov 2016 – 12 Feb 2017
  • ‘Drawings by OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen’, in Hönggerberg, ETH Zurich, CH, 21 Apr 2016 – 20 May 2016
  • ‘Everything Architecture’, in BOZAR, Brussels, BE, 4 Mar 2016 – 29 May 2016
  • ‘Talk About Space’, in Burgauer Architekter Tage, Burgau, DE, 2011
  • ‘OFFICE 85: ‘Garden Pavilion’’, in 12th Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT, 2010
  • ‘7 Rooms / 15 Tables’, in TU Eindhoven, NL, 2010
  • ‘OFFICE 50: ’After The Party’’, in 11th Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT, 2008
  • ‘Seven Rooms’, in deSingel, Antwerp, BE, 2008
  • ’35 m3′, in deSingel, Antwerp, BE, 2006

Group exhibitions (selection)

  • ‘Readymades Belong To Everyone’, Swiss Institute, New York (US), 23 Jun 2018 – 19 Aug 2018
  • ‘Inscriptions: Architecture Before Speech’, Harvard GSD, , 22 Jan 2018 – 11 Mar 2018
  • Chicago Architecture Biennial, Chicago, US. 22 Jan 2018 – 11 Mar 2018
  • ‘UTOPIA/DISTOPIA’, MAAT, Lisbon, PT, 22 Mar 2017 – 21 Aug 2017
  • ‘The Pearling Path’, Bahrain National Museum, 18 Apr 2017 – 4 Aug 2017
  • ‘Spaces without drama or surface is an illusion, but so is depth’, Graham Foundation, Chicago, US, 16 Feb 2017 – 1 Jul 2017
  • ‘Corners – Maniera 11 & 01’, MANIERA gallery, Brussels, BE, 25 Jan 2017 – 25 Mar 2017
  • ’30 architectes’, Pavillon de l’Arsenal, Paris, FR, 12 Dec 2016 – 12 Mar 2017
  • ‘THE BOOKS OF THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE CITY’, Archizoom, EPFL, CH, 21 Feb 2017 – 11 Mar 2017
  • ‘A Minor Architecture’, Espacio Valverde, Madrid, ES, 12 Jan 2017 – 3 Feb 2017
  • ‘EUtopia: the Possibility of an Island’, Museum M, Leuven, BE, 20 Oct 2016 – 17 Jan 2017
  • ‘The Form of Form’, Lisbon Architecture Triennale, Lisbon, PT, 5 Oct 2016 – 11 Dec 2016
  • ‘Maatwerk/Maβarbeit’, DAM, Frankfurt, DE, 2016
  • ‘A Good City Has Industry’, Ravenstein Gallery, Brussels, BE, 2016
  • ‘Bravoure’, 15th Venice Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT, 2016
  • ’25 Architects 5 Absent’, Gallery Art-Cade, Marseille, FR, 2016
  • ‘La Narration du Quotidien’, Forum d’Architectures, Lausanne, CH, 2016
  • ‘Allures’, FRAC, Orléans, FR, 2015
  • ‘Palladian Design: The Good, the Bad and the Unexpected’, RIBA, London, UK, 2015
  • ‘De Wonderjaren: Thirty Years of Architecture in Flanders’, Cultuurcentrum Scharpoord, Knokke BE, 2015
  • ‘Stad Buiten Stad’, deSingel, Antwerp, BE, 2015
  • ‘Blueprint 2.0’, KAde, Amersfoort, NL, 2013
  • ‘Chicago Biennial: The State of the Art of Architecture’, Chicago, US, 2015
  • ‘Labo des Héritiers’, Grand Hornu, Mons, BE, 2014
  • ‘A Small Museum for the American Metaphore’, REDCAT Gallery, Los Angeles, US, 2014
  • ‘Sharjah Art Biennale’, Sharjah, AE, 2013
  • ‘Shenzhen Biennial of Urbanism/Architecture’, Shenzhen, CN, 2013
  • ‘XX Models: young Belgian architecture’, BOZAR, Brussels, BE, 2012
  • ‘Collaborations’, 13th Biennale of Architecture, Venice, IT, 2012
  • ‘New Spatial Practices in Architecture and Art’, MOT, Tokyo, JP, 2011
  • ‘Watou Art Festival’, Watou, BE, 2009
  • ‘Art Basel’, Basel, DE, 2009
  • ‘West-Arch: A New Generation in Architecture’, Ludwig Forum, Aachen, DE, 2009
  • ‘New trends in Europe and South East’, Tokyo, Patras, Sydney and Luxembourg, 2007
  • ‘Gent Morgen’, Ghent, BE, 2007
  • ‘3rd Biennale of Architecture’, Rotterdam, NL, 2007
  • ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Researcher’, Vienna, AT, 2007
  • ’10th Venice Biennale of Architecture’, Venice, IT, 2006
  • ‘Wonderland – Young European Architects’, Amsterdam, Paris, Venice, Zagreb, Ljubljana, 2005

Lectures

Upcoming Lectures

Recent Lectures

Awards

Architecture awards

  • Staalbouwprijs (Steel Building Award), category ‘Elements’, 2016, for OFFICE 78: Library
  • Staalbouwprijs (Steel Building Award), category ‘Industry’, 2016, for OFFICE 117: Drying Hall
  • Berlin Art Prize, category Architecture, 2016, for Ouevre
  • Belgian Prize for Architecture, category ‘Small Interventions’, 2015, for OFFICE 78: Library
  • Dixième Prix Européen d’Architecture Philippe Rothier: Honorable Mention, 2014, for OFFICE 117: Drying Hall
  • Belgian Prize for Architecture, category ‘Non-residential Private’, 2013, for OFFICE 47: Computer Shop
  • Belgian Prize for Architecture, category ‘Single Family Housing’, 2013, for OFFICE 56: Weekend House
  • ‘In Pursuit of Architecture’: the 10 best buildings of the decade, 2013, for OFFICE 39: Villa, Buggenhout
  • Silver Lion at the Venice Biennial for Architecture for ‘Most Promising Young Practice’, 2010, for OFFICE 85: Garden Pavillion (i.c.w. Bas Princen)
  • Belgian Prize for Architecture, category ‘Public Space’, 2009, for OFFICE 23: Bridge

Award-winning competitions

  • OFFICE 227 Tondo, Brussels, BE. Competition, 1st Prize, 2016-… (under development)
  • OFFICE 216 Havenlaan, Brussels, BE. Competition, 1st Prize, 2016-… (under development)
  • OFFICE 176 Campus RTS, Lausanne, CH. Competition, 1st prize, 2015-… (under development)
  • OFFICE 167 Leientoren, Antwerp, BE. Competition, 1st prize, 2014 (not realised)
  • OFFICE 165 Crematorium, Ostend, BE. Competition, 1st prize, 2014-… (in building preparation).
  • OFFICE 152 ‘Incubator’, industrial starter’s centre, Waregem, BE. Competition, 1st prize, 2013-… (under construction).
  • OFFICE 118 ‘4 Ecologies’, masterplan, Emiel Vloorssite, Antwerp, BE. Competition, i.c.w. Technum, 1st prize, 2011.
  • OFFICE 90 ‘Belvedere Walraevens’, Agriculture school, Leuven, BE. Competition, 1st prize. Under construction, 2010-…
  • OFFICE 78 Library and entrance hall, faculty of architecture and urbanism, University of Ghent, BE. Competition, 1st prize, 2010-2014
  • OFFICE 61 ‘Villa Voka’, Chamber of Commerce, Kortrijk, BE. Competition, i.c.w. Bureau Goddeeris and Bas Smets, 1st Prize, 2008-2010
  • OFFICE 57 ‘Central Park Turnhout’, Masterplan & Tunnel/dike, Turnhout, BE. Competition i.c.w. Technum, 1st prize, 2008 – 2015
  • OFFICE 50 ‘After the Party’, Belgian Pavillion at the 11th International Architecture Biennial, Venice, IT. Competition, 1st prize, 2008
  • OFFICE 35 ‘Cité de Refuge’, Ceuta, ES. Project for the Architecture Biennial Rotterdam, NL, Special Mention Award, 2007
  • OFFICE 30 ‘First Town’, KOR. Competition, honorable mention, i.c.w. Dogma and H&A Architects, 2006
  • OFFICE 21 Public Floor for Wiels Art Centre Brussel, BE. Competition, 1st prize, 2006
  • OFFICE 19 ‘A Grammar for the City’, New Administrative Capital, KOR. Competition, 1st prize, i.c.w. Dogma, 2005
  • OFFICE 15: ‘Border Garden’, Border Crossing US-MX. Competition, 1st prize, i.c.w. Wonne Ickx, 2005

Collaborators

  • Kersten Geers, Architect-Engineer
  • David Van Severen, Architect-Engineer
  • Steven Bosmans, Architect-Engineer
  • Bert Rogiers, Architect-Engineer
  • Jan Lenaerts, Architect
  • Alexander Smedts, Architect-Engineer
  • Nenad Đurić, Architect
  • Inga Karen Traustadottir, Architect
  • Jacopo Lugli, Architect
  • Yuichiro Onuma, Architect
  • Justine Rossillion, Architect
  • Anne van Hout, Architect-Engineer
  • Enea Facoetti, Architect
  • Thomas Mertens, Architect-Engineer
  • Stefaan Jamaer, Architect-Engineer
  • Antonios Prokos, Architect
  • Joschka Kannen, Architect
  • Alice Galligo, Architect
  • Giovanni Lazzareschi Sergiusti, Architect
  • Nicholas Jacobs, Architect
  • Linea Dyrbye Jensen, Architect
  • Henri de Chassey, Architect
  • Shinji Terada, Architect
  • Nicolas Berrebbi, Architect
  • Ziou Gao
  • Seppe Claes

Previous collaborators (in alphabetical order): Adeline de Vrij, Alexandra Paritzky, Ali Karimi, Andrea Panzeri, Andrea Pizzini, Andrew Power, Anna Andrich, Anthony Aelbrecht, Antoine Espinasseau, Antoine Souché, Antoine Vaxelaire, Augustin Fortuné, Barbara De Smedt, Benoît Perrier, Clara Dahan, Denis Glauden, Dieter Van Acker, Edoardo Biondetti, Edouard Champalle, Evelyn Temmel, Federico Perugini, Gasper Skalar, Ginevra Masiello, Gonçalo André Pires, Guido Tesio, Henrik Becker, Hilbrand Wanders, Hugo Mazza, Hugo Santoalha, Insa Streit, Jean-Sebastien Lebreton, Joey Swerdlin, Johanna Bindas, Jorrit Sipkes, Jose Cordero Jurado, Joshua Braegger, Juliane Seehawer, Kristin Nothwer, Mahsa Ramezanpour, Marlene Oeken, Martin Dumont, Matteo Venezian, Mayumi Kanemaru, Michael Langeder, Michael Maminski, Michele Mario Zanuso, Mo Vandenberghe, Nicolas Koenig, Paul Christian, Photini Mermiga, Pierre Gernay, Pieter De Walsche, Pietro Salamone, Quang-Vinh Linh, Robin Durand, Ronan Murray, Rosa Fens, Sahar Safieddine, Sam Dieltjens, Sam Lanckriet, Samuel Genet, Santiago Giusto, Saskia Lorenz, Sho Kurokawa, Sophie Florence Wallis, Stanislas Peeters, Stefano Gariglio, Tetsuro Toida, Thais de Roquemaurel, Tomas Tironi, Valerie Van Roy, Vincenzo Paterno, Wim François, Yuki Fujita

Applications

OFFICE is currently looking for Dutch-speaking collaborators with experience in detailing, tendering and construction site management. Please send your application with a digital portfolio (10 mb maximum) in pdf-format to applications@officekgdvs.com. Spontaneous applications are also accepted. Please note that we do not return printed portfolios.