Vincent Van Duysen Architects

Vincent Van Duysen was born in Lokeren, Belgium, in 1962, and undertook a degree in Architecture at the Higher Institute of Architecture Sint-Lucas, Ghent. Between 1986 and 1987 Van Duysen worked in Milan collaborating with Aldo Cibic – Sottsass Associati, after which, in 1990, he opened his own studio in Antwerp concentrating on architecture and interiors. Van Duysen’s early residential projects were noted for the way the interiors subtlety merged and enhanced the architecture but with the completion of the Concordia Offices, in 2000, his ability and reputation as an architect was firmly established. From the beginning Van Duysen has practiced an approach that covers all aspects of architecture and design – with respect for context and tradition his expressions are unafraid of aesthetics and resists fashion and trends.

Architecture and interiors with an essentialism and depth have become a signature of Van Duysen’s work. Former Elle Decoration Editor and design contemporary Ilse Crawford suggests a ‘juxtaposition of the architectural with the irregular. Light and shade. The flow seems effortless… By the end you are not just impressed by the beauty of the spaces but by the memory of the details and the feeling of the materials and it is the latter that stays with you. Vincent Van Duysen is that rare architect who can combine a modern language of form with an intuitive feel for materials.‘ At its core Van Duysen’s architecture deals explicitly with an knowledge of materials and their physicality – a reflection of the senses. A strong relationship exists between Van Duysen’s designs and architectural projects – he develops furniture and objects with an architectural perspective – creating spatial relations rather than shapes.

A rescaled interpretation of the architectural work, Van Duysen creates pieces that afford a purity and essentialism yet remain tactile and grounded. Subsequently many of the designs reference primary forms or historical objects which Van Duysen redefines through a contemporary lens. A balance of form and proportion – without omitting durability, function, and comfort – is critical to the design process. Van Duysen embraces these emotional aspects of architecture as ‘l’art de vivre’. Currently his Antwerp-based office consists of 18 collaborators who work across a domestic and global portfolio. The offices’ broad reach features numerous works in Belgium and significant international projects including residential works in London, New York, Los Angeles and Milan, office buildings in Beirut and Riyadh, and high-end commercial fitouts in Paris, Rome, and Hong Kong .

Van Duysen’s work has been published widely – in 2001, an inaugural monograph was published by the Spanish GG Editions and reflected the first 10 years of Vincent’s work with emphasis on his architectural projects. The comprehensive ‘Complete Works’, published by Thames & Hudson in 2010, focused on his multidisciplinary approach where architecture, interior architecture, and design are equally considered. Featuring contributions from leading architects and critics, the edition has been one of Thames & Hudson’s most popular recent titles with close to 11,000 copies. Due to the popularity of Vincent’s work, the office was approached in 2013 by Portuguese publisher A.MAG to release an updated edition of selected works and again in 2016 by Japan magazine A+U. A fifth monograph is slated for 2017 that will consolidate the offices’ most recent work captured by a selection of world renowned architecture and interior photographers.

1994
Charles Wilford, nominated with house DB Mol.

1995
Arch & Life – Belgian European Architectural Awards, honourable mention.

1999
The Outstanding Young Persons Award - Belgium, laureate – personal developments and realisations.

2001
Belgium Architecture Awards, nominated with Concordia Office building Waregem.

2002
Belgium Architecture Awards, nominated with DC residence Waasmunster.

2003
ADI Design Index, selected with VVD collection B&B Italia.
4 Yearly Province Prize for Architectuur of the Province West-Flanders, nominated with Concordia Office building Waregem.

2004
Flemisch master builder – design contest 527 for the Erasmus College Erasmus of Brussels, selected.
Flemisch master builder – design contest 528 for the College of West-Flanders, selected.
Flemisch master builder – design contest 622 for the Youth Hostel of Antwerp, laureate.
Flemisch master builder – design contest 605 for the Crematorium of Sint Niklaas, selected.
Henry Van de Velde Prices, selected with Pottery collection When Objects Work.

2005
Flemisch master builder – design contest 615 for the masterplan of the park and home for the elderly icw Paul De Roose, landscape architect selected.
International urban ideas competition for the revitalisation of Martyrs' Square Beirut Lebanon icw Nabil Gholam Architecture and Planning and Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architecture, second prize winner.

2006
Design For Europe, Interieur 06, jury member.

2007
The Edge, competition Al Mojil Investment Limited, Dubai, jury member.

2009
Maison & Objet – Scènes d’interieur, Paris, France, designer of the year.

2011
ADI Compasso d’Oro, nominated with Dry for Brix.

2012
ADI Compasso d’Oro, nominated with Shadow for DePadova.

2013 - Interior Innovation Award 2013, German Design Council
- winner 2013 with Theo for B&B Italia;
- winner 2013 with Shadow for DePadova.
Belgium Building Awards nominated with VM Residence.

2015
de Architect ARC15 Architecture Award, The Netherlands, laureate with TR residence Knokke.

2016
AD100, USA - inducted.
Belgium Prize for Architecture 2015, selected with TR residence Knokke.

Monographs
2001 - Vincent Van Duysen, GG editorial, Barcelona Spain.

2010
Vincent Van Duysen Complete Works, Thames & Hudson, Londen UK.

2011
488 Recent Projects + Vincent Van Duysen, A + U, Japan.

2013
Vincent Van Duysen, A.MAG, Porto Portugal.

Magazines
Various articles featured in magazines all over the world such as Architectural Digest, Bamboo, Domus, Elle Decor, Elle Decoration, Interni, Interview, Kinfolk, NY Times, NY Times Style Magazine, Vogue Living, Wallpaper, World of Interiors.

Books
Worldwide numerous realisations were published, among which:

1996
Yearbook Flanders Architecture 1994-1995, Ministry of the Flamish Community.

1998
Yearbook Flanders Architecture 1996-1997, Ministry of the Flamish Community.

2000
Minimalisms, GG Editorial.
40 Architects under 40, Taschen.

2002
Yearbook Flanders Architecture 2000 -2001, Ministry of the Flamish Community.

2003
2003 Adi Design Index, Editrice Compositori.
Belgium New Architecture II, Prisme Editions.

2004
The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture, Phaidon Press Ltd .
Attention to detail, Jacqui Small.
Minimalist Design, Birkhäuser.

2005
The International Design Yearbook 2005 edited by Marcel Wanders, Laurence King Publishing.
Sketch Plan Build, Harper Design and Loft Publications.
Belgium New Architecture III, Prisme Editions.
Label-Design.be, Stichting Kunstboek.
House Plus, Thames & Hudson.
Contemporary Living in Belgium – Hedendaags wonen in België, Beta-Plus.

2006
Living with colour, Beta-Plus.
Brussels Style, Minimal Style and Minimalistic Interiors, Taschen.

2007
Conversions, Laurence King Publishing.

2008
Townhouses, Callwey
Nouveaux intérieurs de la côte, Taschen.
Luxury Houses Top of the World, teNeues.

2009
Detail in Contemporary Bathroom Design, Laurence King Publishing.

2010
New Concept Architecture II, Rihan Hong Kong.
Belgium is Design, 6 Design Triënnale, Design Vlaanderen – Stichting Kunstboek.
Swarovski Crystal Palace – The Art of Light and Crystal, teNeues.

2011
Belgium New Architecture 5, Prisme Editions.

2012
Interiors Martyn Thompson, Hardie Grant books.
Innovate Koen Van Damme, Lannoo.
Design Talks: Contemporary Creatives on Architecture and Design, Images Publishing.

2013
Inspiring Interiors Piet Swimberghe and Jan Verlinde, Lannoo.
Goods, Frame Publishers.
Workshop Bulo - Werkplaats Bulo, Manteau.
Belgium’s Best Design, Luster.

2014
The Inspired Home: Nests of Creatives, Rizzoli.
Architecture book Flanders no 11- Architectuurboek Vlaanderen no 11, Vlaams Architectuurinstituut.
The Super House, Penguin / Lantern.

2015
Detail in Contemporary Residential Architecture 2, Laurence King Publishing.

1988
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.

1996
Nouvelle Architecture en Flandres, Arc en rêve, Bordeaux, Frankrijk.

1999
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.

2000
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.

2002
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.

2003
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Somewhere Totally Else – The European Design Show, Design Museum, London, UK.

2004
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Swarovski Crystal Palace collection at the Shanghai Arts Festival, China.

2005
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Label-Design.be, Design in Belgium after 2000, Grand Hornu Images, Belgium.
(Im)Perfect by design, KMKG, Brussels, Belgium.

2006
Philadelphia Museum of Art, USA.
Moss Gallery, New York, USA.
VIA / Design Yearbook Exhibition, Paris, France.
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Classic, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Grand Hornu, permanent exhibition, Belgium.
Fine Art Fair, Moskou, Russia.
Design de Flandre, Montréal, Canada.
Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium.

2007
Authentic Belgian Creativity, Milan, Italy.
Nieuwe Belgische Vormgeving, Museum Waterland, Pummerend, The Netherlands.
5e Triënnale voor Vormgeving, Royal museum for Art en History, Brussels, Belgium.
Dag van de Architectuur, Stichting Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium.
Ocean’s Thirteen, Swarovski crystal chandelier, movie USA.

2008
A World of Folk, Stavanger, Norway.
Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium.

2009
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Maison & Objet – Scènes d’interieur, Paris, France.

2010
Maison & Objet – Scènes d’interieur, Paris, France.
Le bonheur est dans le design – La collection Grand-Hornu, Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, Paris, France.
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Fighting the box, De Electriciteitscentrale, Brussels, Belgium.
6e Triënnale Belgium is Design, Grand-Hornu Images, Mons, Belgium.

2011
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Creative Junctions The first Beijing international design triennial, Beijing, China.

2012
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Déja-Vu exhibition at Interieur, Kortrijk, Belgium.

2013
Like Pastoe, Kunsthal Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Nomadism, Altai Gallery, Milan, Italy.
NeoCon, Chicago, USA.

2014
Mobilia, Atomium, Brussels, Belgium.
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
NeoCon, Chicago, USA.

2015
International Furniture Fair, Milan, Italy.
Horizon 8300 exhibition, Knokke, Belgium.
A.Track, Donum, Antwerp, Belgium.

2016
‘3 heren en 1 dame’ New Years Party, Amsterdam, The Netherlands , Bulo and Lensvelt.