F9 Architect Paul Robbrecht on working with history and art

My guest today is Belgian architect Paul Robbrecht. Fifty years ago, he and his wife Hilde Daem founded Robbrecht en Daem architecten in Ghent, Belgium. In 2005, their son Johannes joined the studio.Today, it is one of the most renowned practices in the country.Robbrecht and Daem were entrusted with integrating a concert hall (Concertgebouw) and an exhibition hall (BRUSK) into Bruges, a UNESCO World heritage siteThey expanded the Whitechapel in London and restored Henry van de Velde's Boekentoeren (Book Tower) in Ghent. My favorite buildings is the Market Hall in Ghent. “If we can use things that already exist, let's use them.”  Paul Robbrecht saysI have worked with Robbrecht en Daem on several occasions In 2013, they created a life-size Model for us, Projekt MIK e.V.,  based on Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's design for the Golf Club House in Krefeld. For me, the office is a special cosmos: architecture, music, nature and, above all, art “as a critical presence” are always there - even physically, under the vast roof of a former timber yard in Ghent. Everything is connected, you can feel it. Links to the architecture and Artists  mentioned in the podcastConcert Hall, Bruges, Belgiumhttps://robbrechtendaem.com/projects/concert-hallBRUSK. Brugge, Belgiumhttps://www.museabrugge.be/de/visit/locations/bruskMarket Hall and Central Squares, Ghent, Belgiumhttps://robbrechtendaem.com/projects/market-hall-and-central-squaresMies 1:1. das Golfclub Projekt, Krefeld, Germanyhttps://www.projektmik.com/projekt-mies-11-das-golfclub-projekt/Jan van Eyck, Portrait of a Manhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portrait_of_a_Man_(Self_Portrait%3F)Boekentoren – University Library, Ghent, Belgiumhttps://robbrechtendaem.com/projects/boekentoren-university-libraryRubens Square, Knokke, Belgiumhttps://robbrechtendaem.com/projects/rubens-squareEncounter with Cristina Iglesiashttps://robbrechtendaem.com/encounters/cristina-iglesiasEncounter with Gerhard Richterhttps://robbrechtendaem.com/encounters/gerhard-richterEncounter with Luc Tuymanshttps://robbrechtendaem.com/encounters/luc-tuymansEncounter with Michaël Borremanshttps://robbrechtendaem.com/encounters/michael-borremans produced by www.projektmik.com