David Van Severen is one of the leading partners of the OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen. His lecture will introduce the exhibition that will showcase a selection of recent OFFICE work, ranging from a small-scale private house to a large-scale public building. The exhibition, as well as the lecture will focus on the aspect of singularity in architecture — how the prosaic and the commonplace gain a significance and thus cultural value.

OFFICE is an architectural practice founded by Kersten Geers and David Van Severen. Since its establishment in 2002 in Brussels, OFFICE has been committed to the idea of architecture as a cultural undertaking aimed at improving the human environment. To that end, they see the increasingly pressing topics of sustainability, responsible sourcing, or future use, as a catalyst for shaping our urban and social realm, and architectural form as part of the solution. The projects are at once pragmatic and innovative, while deeply rooted in diverse architectural histories. In its very essence, OFFICE work creates a framework within which life unfolds in all its complexity.

OFFICE projects differ in scale and type, ranging from furniture to urban design. Recent projects currently under construction include Aerospacelab Megafactory in Charleroi, Belgium; Swiss Radio and Television building in Lausanne, Switzerland; Lafayette Department Store in Paris, France; and VRT Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. This practice is combined with academic research and teaching, thus creating unexpected parallels between the two aspects of OFFICE’s production. The international team is comprised of about 40 members, whose diverse backgrounds and knowledge contribute to the unique voice of OFFICE. Since 2018, OFFICE is a partnership led by Kersten Geers, David Van Severen and Jan Lenaerts, together with associates Justine Rossillion, Alexander Smedts and Jacopo Lugli.

The lecture and the exhibition will inaugurate a new cultural space: Laboratory for design and architecture.

Laboratory is conceived as a platform for exhibitions, workshops and debates on design and architecture. It is a collaborative initiative of the Art Academy of Latvia and the architecture and design studio Sampling. It is located in the building of AAL in Kronvalda blvd. 4, Riga.

Laboratory for Design and Architecture
Kronvalda blvd. 4, Riga
Tuesday, April 4 at 6.30 PM

The lecture will be in English.

The events are supported by the Flemish Government.