BARAK (2004) is the name given to the alliance of the architects Carl Bourgeois (Tongeren, 1969) and Tijl Vanmeirhaeghe (Ghent, 1976), who have created architecture together since 2003. Both worked for Wim Cuyvers for a considerable time. Carl Bourgeois has been a lecturer at St Lucas College of Science and Art in Ghent since 2002. Tijl Vanmeirhaeghe has been a studio coach in the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Ghent University since 2001.
Barak confronts the protective building envelope - the shell, the casing, the skin - with the elementary building block of every house: the room. Room and envelope meet in the self-evident character of the 'shed' [Tr. 'barak' in Dutch]. In this way Barak tries to generate an original architecture that is intended as a counterbalance to the smooth, minimalist 'quality architecture' that has defined the architectural scene in recent years. Being given carte blanche, an unlimited budget or the request for the sterilisation of an interior so as to remove life from the picture as much as possible, these all rarely if ever lead to true architecture. Which is why Barak tries to find a robust built form that can stand up effortlessly to contamination and disruption, and at the same time distils its strength from it.
Projects (a selection)
2011
- Officebuilding for Veneco2
- Pype house, Ghent
2010
- Zeegers house, Ghent
- De Meester house, Ghent
- Housingcomplex AGSOB, project 'Nieuwe hoeken', Ledeberg
- Dedain gardenhouse, Ghent
- Competition visitorscentre Heuvelland
- Competition UGent library
2009
- Vaneename house, Ghent
- Bollaert house, Ghent
- Artist work shop Van den Broek, Merksem
- Competition daycare centre, Merksem
- Competition housing complex Bijgaarde, AGSOB, Ghent
- Competition Port of Ghent
2008
- Baert-De Neve house
- Venice Biennale, 'Displacement'
- Competition creche, AGSOB, Ghent
- Competition type-house AGSOB, Ghent
2007
- Dekeyzer house, Gentbrugge
- De Lauw house, Zwijnaarde
- Haeseryn Lawyers' Practice, Ledeberg
- Deprez-Nevejans house, Zwijnaarde
- Contour 2007, second International Video Biennale, Mechelen
- Scenografie 35 m4, deSingel, Antwerp
2006
- Van Dinter house, Maaseik
- Casteleyn house, Ghent
- Beyers house, Temse
- COMA, sensitisation campaign highrise buildings, Ghent
2005
- Lookout post with fire brigade building at Ostend International Airport
- Vandeneynde house, Ghent
2004
- Jans house, Ghent
- Vandewiele house, Vresse-sur-Semois
- De Wispelaere house, Ghent
Articles
2007
- 'De School Opgelost, van Hunstanton Secondary School tot De Nieuwste School', in OASE nr 73, March 2007
2006
- 'De School als Ontwerpopgave - Schoolarchitectuur in Vlaanderen 1995 - 2005', published on commission to the Flemish Government Architect Marcel Smets and in cooperation with Guy Châtel, Maarten Van Den Driessche, Christophe Van Gerrewey and Bart Verschaffel.
- 'De School als Apparaat - een kleine geschiedenis van het Belgische schooltraktaat', research article in abovementioned publication, pp. 62-95
- 'Het Project van de Schoolarchitectuur', research article in abovementioned publication, pp. 142-147
2004
- 'FLC extended - Future Conflicts', published by VAI and A16 - text to accompany the publication.
2001
- 'Wielrennen en het Landschap, plekproducerende strategieën voor het dorp Vlaanderen', in AS nr 166.
2000
- 'B-sites, over de Plaats van een Kunst- en Onderzoekscentrum te Brussel', publication for Brussel 2000, editors in cooperation with Wouter Davidts.
- 'Versus, beeldvorming rond boksen in de VS', AS nr 159.
Publications / Exhibitions
2010
- Vandewiele house, in: Decors 1048
- Van Dinter house, in: Decors 1048
- Van Dinter house, in: Wallpaper* 134
- Lecture about own work in framework of 'Crisis in Architecture', International Symposium at Casa de Asturias, Brussels
2009
- Belgisch Budget Bouwboek
2008
- Haeseryn Lawyers' Practice, in: De Architect 5/2008
- Lecture about own work in framework of 'Gent Beken(d)t' at the VA&S of University Ghent
- A+ hors serie (eng/it): Venice Architecture Biennale: 'Displacement'
2007
- Vandewiele house, in: A+ 208
- Vandeneynde and Casteleyn houses, in: A+ 204, pp. 56-59
- 35m - young architecture, deSingel International Arts Campus, Antwerp