ORG, Permanent Modernity

CATO’s construction is complete! Over the course of more than a year, ORG collaborated closely with local architect IMDesign and contractor S.R. Nicholas. We’re looking forward to the opening ceremony of the CAT building in May. The Centre for Agricultural Transformation (CAT) is an innovative facility on the NRC Campus in Lilongwe, Malawi. Designed for sustainability and innovation, it will serve as a hub for ag-tech, connecting academic research with the local farms to foster an agricultural future in the region that unhooks it from tobacco crop dependence. With its unique roof design enhancing natural light and ventilation, the space fosters collaboration and learning, positioning CAT as a landmark in Malawi's agricultural innovation ecosystem.

The capping of the Antwerp Ring is more than an infrastructure project—it’s a transformative step toward healthier communities, resilient landscapes and long-term sustainability. Despite incredible complexity, Team Intendant thrives on the transformative potential of this visionary project. Meet more of the team contributing their expertise every day. Eva Gilson: Eva leverages GIS mapping and visual tools to assess project impacts and reveal opportunities for stronger design connections. Her detailed mapping exercises guide decision makers in envisioning how each piece fits into the larger urban fabric. Senne Heylen: Senne engages in feasibility research and scenario design, testing new ideas and refining strategies. By exploring innovative possibilities, Senne helps shape solutions that balance technical rigor with community aspirations. Léa Colombain: Lea integrates the masterplan's overarching vision into tangible landscape designs, focusing on sectional work that guides integration. Her meticulous approach ensures each element fits into the greater whole. Rana Bachir: Rana supports the planning and coordination process by assisting with logistics and collaboration within the team and with external stakeholders involved in the project. Gertie van den Bosch: Gertie analyzes mobility projects, ranking them by impact and feasibility, and preparing them for modeling. She also delivers insights for prioritization and creates visual representations like maps and schemes. Stay tuned for more on the Antwerp Ring and it’s Team Intendant.

Marchandise RES Awards We’re thrilled to share that our "Marchandise" project for CityDev.brussels has been nominated for the RES Awards Belgium under the Residential Development category!  This multipurpose building was thoughtfully designed to minimize environmental impact and maximize natural light, reflecting our commitment to sustainability and innovation. The RES Awards aim to reward excellent real estate developments across Belgium and we're honored to be part of this year’s nominees! citydev.brussels#Kairos nv#ORG, Permanent Modernity#A2M Architecture

Guiding one of Western Europe’s largest infrastructure projects is no small challenge. Team Intendant contends with evolving geometries, intricate logistics and overlapping ambitions. Yet the project’s balanced ambition and potential to elevate urban life inspire our team and partners to push forward. Meet more of the team shaping this effort: Dieter Van Hemelrijck: Dieter’s research-by-design approach shapes the project’s conceptual phases, informed by community-driven initiatives. From exploring diverse scenarios to tackling the technical challenge of capping the ring, he ensures transformative ideas can take root. Hendrik Bloem: Hendrik guides the spatial design, blending infrastructure with urban planning to enhance public spaces, ecology and green networks. By leading feasibility studies, co-creation workshops and stakeholder sessions he ensures high-quality integration across the ring parks. Caroline Huybrechts: Caroline advances strategic modal shift initiatives, Ringspoor and the Luchtbal multimodal hub, while overseeing quality assurance in conceptual urban designs. Her contributions help steer the transportation network toward a more sustainable future. Marie Mistiaen: Marie guides communication and process management, ensuring that complex ideas are shared transparently with stakeholders and that the collaborative efforts move smoothly from plan to practice. Nikita Shah: Nikita leads a team developing strategies, methodologies, and a computational model to evaluate mobility. She oversees operations and ensures accessibility, delivering an investment catalog and keeping projects on track. Heinrich Altenmueller: Heinrich combines technical expertise with a unique ability to conceptualize and visualize ideas. His focus is on infrastructure design, employing scenarios and sketches to bring ideas to life. Through his creative approach, he excels at translating complex concepts into tangible solutions. Stay tuned for more on the team.

Over the past few years, Team Intendant has been at the forefront of “De Grote Verbinding” (The Great Connection) a transformative initiative aimed at reconnecting Antwerp’s neighborhoods and enhancing liveability, infrastructure and environmental quality around the city’s Ring Road. As part of this effort, an independent intendant, Alexander D’Hooghe, was appointed to guide the process with his team, working closely with local and regional governments, citizen groups and technical experts to ensure the proposals align with long-term urban and environmental goals. Executing a successful project requires balancing a complex network of commitments, making it Western Europe’s largest, most intricate and ambitious infrastructure initiative. Meet the team behind the project. Alexander D'Hooghe: As the Intendant, Alexander curates inclusive processes that reconcile diverse interests and guides complex discussions toward unified, technically sound urban designs. His leadership ensures that each decision supports long-term success and a shared, qualitative vision. Patricia De Somer: Patricia orchestrates the operations of Team Intendant. She leads weekly meetings, coaches the team and advises on strategic roles and processes. Samuel Van de Vijver: Samuel ensures the project’s quality and cohesion, fosters strong stakeholder relationships, coordinates design teams, and integrates spatial planning to address diverse urban and territorial challenges. He leverages his expertise to facilitate complex processes and align them with the broader project vision. Marcel Smets: Marcel serves as a senior advisor on design, quality assurance, and process management. With decades of experience and deep expertise, he provides high-level guidance to Team Intendant throughout the design trajectories, ensuring excellence and strategic direction in all aspects of the project. Hella Rogiers: Hella steers participation and communication, bridging communities, stakeholders and technical experts. Her work ensures that all voices are heard and that shared understanding shapes the project’s direction. Stay tuned for more on the team.

If you or someone you know could be a good fit, you can find the job posting here: https://lnkd.in/eTJZYa-8

The first ever ORG Masterclass is coming next week on January 13th at 16h (CET) 10h (EST) - From Data to Decisions: Computational Models for Planning Optimization. Alexander D'Hooghe will introduce ‘ORG Calculators’ within a multi-disciplinary, cross-systems context and David Birge will highlight ORG’s approach to model design. The class will cover five live projects as case studies that offer a new approach to policy planning and scenario analysis: - Generating for each stakeholder scenario the Optimal Marine Spatial Plan by Timothy Vanagt - Bridging data gaps for Climate Adaptation by Garine Boghossian - Informing decisions for Optimized Mobility by Nikita Shah - Developing a shared vision for Qualitative Public Space by Yannick Vanhaelen - Regreening deserts through Regenerative Agriculture by Sofia Saavedra Bruno To participate in this masterclass, please register using the link below. Once registered, you will receive a Microsoft Teams invite with all the necessary details. https://lnkd.in/efGySysR

The Knokke-Heist Fire station is in the press, highlighted for its thoughtful design and sustainability. Knokke-Heist’s new fire station combines functionality and sustainability with a striking design. Developed by Team Spuytgast, led by Volus with ORG, Piet Bailyu Project Architects, VK Engineering, and BuroGroen, the building features a red-brick façade, dynamic roof shape and eco-friendly materials like CO2-negative bricks and recycled slag. While the fire station has an impressive aesthetic, it was designed for efficiency, ensuring maximum accessibility to keep intervention times short. The building includes living areas with park views, an indoor terrace and operational spaces optimized for readiness. The project also integrates water reuse systems, a green roof and permeable parking surfaces. ORG architect Luk Peeters emphasizes its role as an example of eco-friendly design, demonstrating how sustainable materials enhance both the environment and user experience. “The new barracks should not only be functional for the fire department, but also set an example in the field of sustainable building,” he said. “With this project, we show how ecologically responsible materials and techniques can contribute to a better living environment, without sacrificing aesthetics or comfort.” Read more on the project here: https://lnkd.in/eAdiPKtC https://lnkd.in/eG3wvehd https://lnkd.in/e5FZ3eED https://lnkd.in/eaU9z3dW https://lnkd.in/e86zZZWh

Check out this video to learn about our Regenerating Deserts project in Egypt. The initiative received funding from the Flemish Government through the Flanders International Climate Action Programme, an initiative coordinated by G-STIC and Departement Omgeving.

If you've got a moment (or hour) to spare, join us today at 12pm EST 6pm CET for Yannick's talk out the Public Space Manual. Link below to join.