Andrew Waugh
Andrew is a Founding Director of Waugh Thistleton Architects, a practice dedicated to delivering beautiful buildings and places that acknowledge their impact on the environment. He is a world-renowned spokesperson for low carbon architecture and innovative construction, and lobbies and lectures internationally, communicating the urgent need for change to mitigate the climate crisis. A pivotal player in the global shift towards renewable, bio-based materials, Andrew’s innovative approach to design has been acknowledged by many awards including the RIBA President’s Award for Research and a Stirling Prize nomination in 2018 and the UK Practice of the Year award for 2023. The practice is currently engaged on both research and design projects throughout Europe and North America.
More info: https://waughthistleton.com/
Bram Vandoren
Bram Vandoren is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering Technology at Hasselt University, Belgium. His PhD research focused on finite element models for masonry failure. Over time, his team expanded their research to assess the mechanical behaviour of structural components, especially timber structures. They emphasize bridging the gap between advanced numerical models and practical engineering tools. Bram leads the Belgian standardization mirror committee for wood structures design (Eurocode 5) and contributes to the European standardization committee for Eurocode 5: Design of timber structures. He also oversees the Master of Science program in Engineering Technology – Construction and teaches courses related to computational mechanics, structural mechanics, and timber mechanics.
More info: https://www.uhasselt.be/en/who-is-who/bram-vandoren
Jan Van den Bulcke
Jan Van den Bulcke is a full professor at UGent-Woodlab, focusing on the entire forest-wood chain. His research delves into the intricate dynamics of inter- and intra-annual wood formation. His investigations span temperate and tropical regions, analysing tree performance and adaptation mechanisms in function of climate change, among other through the study of wood anatomical traits and dendrochronology. Utilizing state-of-the-art non-destructive imaging methods, with a special focus on X-ray Computed Tomography, he examines wood and wood-based materials to elucidate their structure-function relationships.
More info: https://research.ugent.be/web/person/jan-van-den-bulcke-1/
Stéphanie Collier
Stéphanie Collier is an engineer-architect and has worked for B-architecten since 2018. She previously worked at a2o architects and HASA architects, where she gained broad experience in the different phases of the construction process. Stéphanie extensively worked on the timber project Mundo A, a bio-based passive office in Antwerp of 2.255 square meters. She has specific expertise as a project leader, particularly in developing tender dossiers, complete site follow-up and communication with construction partners. As team leader, Stéphanie currently manages a cell of eight architects, while following up own projects as project leader. In addition, Stéphanie is 'responsible for sustainability' within B-architecten, where she integrally focuses on making both the organisation and the projects more sustainable.
More info: https://b-architecten.be/
Marcelo Blasco
Marcelo Blasco holds a master degree in civil construction engineering and in architecture, and a doctoral degree in engineering sciences. He has a wide experience in building acoustics. He has been involved as an acoustical expert in more than 500 projects, also from different renowned architects such as Piano, Foster, Rogers, Nouvel, Herzog & de Meuron, etc. Blasco has participated in acoustic standardization, and he is co-author of the Belgian standard on acoustics (NBN S01-400-1). Currently, he is part-time professor at the University of Ghent and assistant professor at KULeuven, Ghent and Brussels. Blasco has tested over 1200 building elements ranging from façades, profiles, panels to walls, floorings and absorption elements in the laboratory and in situ.
More info: https://arch.kuleuven.be/team/blasco-marcelo
Kurt De Proft
Kurt De Proft is R&D expert at Buildwise, focusing on fire safety. After finishing his PhD in numerical methods for simulating quasi-brittle failure, Kurt worked several years in the field of structural behaviour of timber structures. Over the years, the aspect of fire safety of constructions became more and more involved in the work, with a special attention for timber construction. Kurt started in 2023 at Buildwise fully focusing on research in the field of fire safety and implementation of concepts in building practice.
More info: https://www.buildwise.be/nl/
Filip Dobbels
Filip Dobbels is a civil engineer-architect (UGhent). In 1997, he wrote a thesis on mid-rise timber buildings, in which he proposed further development based on knowledge from the European network COST E5 "Timber frame building systems" and TU Delft. Since 1998, he has been working at the Belgian Building Research Institute (now Buildwise), within the R&D Unit "Building Envelope & Finishing". His interest and research activities focus on building details, with particular attention to energy and environmental impact. As an independent engineer-architect, he realised several innovative timber structures, including the first Belgian application of the Lignoforce timber connection (2009) and of the timber concrete floor technology in a timber frame construction (2006). Since 2002, he has been a member of the Expert Group "Building Physics, Building Technology and Architecture" of ie-net, from which he initiated the biennial course "Timber Structures".
More info: https://www.buildwise.be/nl/
Sarah Theeuws
Sarah Theeuws, engineer architect, graduated from KU Leuven in 2002, serves as the director at West Architectuur, a leading firm in sustainable architecture. Based at the Kamp C site in the province of Antwerp, West Architectuur employs eight staff members and focuses on public projects, social housing, and offices. The firm is renowned for its commitment to circularity, sustainability, and aesthetics in every project. The team at West Architectuur guides clients in their choices with a focus on achieving both beauty and environmental awareness. Their approach is one of innovation and community, aiming to make a positive impact on the environment.
More info: https://westarchitectuur.be/
Piet Kerckhof
Piet Kerckhof (°1961) is principal architect at Wood Architects and Engineers. His 38 years of experience in timber started during his studies at Sint-Lucas in 1986, with his essay “2/4, Woodframe construction” exploring technical and artistic possibilities of wood in the past and future. His expertise is focused on bio-ecological building with a postgraduate at KaHo Sint Lieven in 2011. Wood Architects & Engineers is a very atypical Belgian architecture firm, because using concrete, bricks and similar products is minimalized. Only biobased materials have a positive impact on Climate Change, because using those materials extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. All other solutions still emit carbon dioxide. PEFC or FSC labeled wood guarantees the continuity of our forests. The circle is already closed at the beginning by renew our resources. By using wood, we change our buildings into carbon sinks (for many decades). And the recycled wood after a demolition can be used in different products. Wooden buildings are easily prefabricated. This results in less transportation, waste and shorter construction times.
More info: www.wood-architects.be