Lisl du Toit of Universal Design Studio, the practice behind forward-thinking projects such as the M127 office building in Antwerp, considers how it is possible to create lasting spaces that are sustainable in every sense of the word
When we are trying to create a more sustainable world, reframing our built environment and challenging deep-rooted preconceptions about how architecture operates should become standard. The seismic changes of the past few years have demonstrated that socio- economic changes in our towns and cities are calling for a more open and adaptive approach to architecture. Across the field, our responsibility is to create lasting spaces that can be sustainable in all senses of the word: environmentally, economically and socially.
By its nature, architecture transforms spaces. Using this power of transformation to revitalise buildings of the past to meet the needs of our present and address our ever-changing futures can be the most sustainable way of creating new spaces. And through collaboration with colleagues from across the industry, we have the potential to create rich places that are more than the sum of their parts. For instance, at M127 in Antwerp, we collaborated with ono architects, landscape architect Ludovic Devriendt and artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui to breathe new life into a concrete structure from the 1960s.
While the original brief designated workspaces as the primary function of the building, the client team had a more dynamic vision for the structure – one that transcends traditional boundaries. Their goal was to create a space that could accommodate a multitude of functions and programmes, serving as a vibrant envelope for activity rather than a mere backdrop for a singular purpose. With this in mind, we reworked the interiors to create more generous volumes at ground level that would allow for flexible use, both for the building’s new occupants and the wider community. At the centre of this we created a large, double-volume ‘forum’ space that can be reconfigured to accommodate various functions, from conferences and receptions to rehearsal space for the neighbouring music school. In a similar gesture of generosity, the gardens between the building and the adjacent church were combined to create a publicly accessible urban green space.
Any act of creative transformation should future-proof a space and ensure it remains valid and valuable for as long as possible. We know that our current culture hungers for the new: to resist this, we need to create buildings and spaces that give clients as little reason as possible to seek to redevelop them in the future. A major aspect of this work is designing buildings that are adaptable enough to change over time, growing along with the companies and communities who inhabit them. So, it is about making sure that spaces eschew temporary trends and fads. To ensure aesthetic longevity, we embrace the principles of reuse by displaying the alterations made to the buildings we work on. Rather than concealing modifications, we choose to leave them exposed.
This deliberate decision not only highlights the building’s evolution but also celebrates its honest character. By prioritising transparency over unnecessary secondary finishes, we reinforce the narrative of the structure’s transformation and the beauty of its functional history. Sustainable design is not something that has to be staid, predictable or formulaic. It is an act of creativity that has the potential to shape our futures for the better. Sustainable design takes into account the needs of future users as well as those in front of us today. It does not settle for simply trying to maintain the status quo, but pushes the industry towards making a more lasting positive contribution.
For more information, visit universaldesignstudio.com
Image by Jack Orton
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