Architecture Speaks: Dirk Somers

Dirk Somers (born in1976) studied architecture in Antwerp and Milan, graduating in Urban and Environmental Planning at KULeuven. Together with Erik Wieërs in 2001 he started Huiswerk Architecten. In 2011 Dirk Somers established a new of office: Bovenbouw Architectuur.
 
Dirk Somers has been teaching Architectural Design at Delft University of Technology since 2003. From September 2011 he is also design professor at Ghent University. He regularly holds lectures on topics such as tectonics, materialization and urban architecture.
 
Bovenbouw Architectuur took part in several exhibitions in Venice, München, Mendrisio, Aachen, London, and Antwerp. The practice fuses together different period styles in an engaging and thoughtful way. Their current projects include a passive house located in a historic quarter of Brussels (2017–2019). The new building is ingeniously integrated with the older architecture, though without copying its style. They also offer new perspectives on modernization in recent work such a collaborative project undertaken together with Barbara Van der Wee Architects (2018), which involves the overhaul and stylistic integration of three residential buildings in Antwerp.
 
– Dirk Somers represents a genre-defying group of intriguing new Belgian architects. I want to understand exactly what makes their work so compelling, states Jenni Reuter, curator of the lecture series.

Architecture Speaks 
This international lecture series is curated by Professor Jenni Reuter and organised by Aalto University Department of Architecture and the Museum of Finnish Architecture together with Archinfo Finland. The new season looks at themes related to sustainable development and how architecture can contribute toward building a more sustainable society. Six architects from various backgrounds are invited to share their thoughts and ideas on current trends in architecture. 

Museum ticket: 10/5/0€, Free entrance with the Museum Card
Free entrance for the student of Aalto University