by Lisa de Visscher (Editor), Eline Dehullu (Editor), Stefan Devoldere (Editor)
One firm's playful, people-focused approach to architecture in all areas of society, from interactive hiking trails to basement nightclubs
Based in Ghent, NU architectuuratelier is an organization for architecture and design research whose mission is to develop spatial projects in collaboration with professionals from different fields. By approaching the design process empathically, NU aims to make a qualitative contribution to both the social and spatial environment. Its work has manifested itself in all areas of everyday life, and has included care facilities, renovated historic churches, offices, residential complexes and more. NU's most recent collaboration has been with the BOZAR Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, comprising an interactive playspace where the public is invited to interact with furniture and domestic designs amid a landscape filled with flowers, cacti and other natural elements. Its first monographic publication shows some of the firm's main realizations through plans, drawings and photographs by Belgian photographer Stijn Bollaert.