Sunflowers, Thatch, and Shells as Building Materials

 

Laurens Bekemans focuses on natural building materials in his designs. His junior professorship in building construction and design at RWTH Aachen University has now been extended.

Walls made of sunflowers, thatched facades or shells built into a house front - the materials Laurens Bekemans uses for his buildings are all natural and sustainable. Almost three years ago, the Brussels-born architect took up the position of junior professor for building construction and design at RWTH Aachen University. His contract has now been extended for a further three years.

The architect and co-founder of the Brussels-based firm "BC architects and studies and materials" was first appointed to RWTH in March 2022. "When I was informed that my junior professorship had been extended, I was very pleased. It’s nice to know that my work is appreciated," he says. He and his team organize workshops in Germany, southern France, Belgium, and England so that students can learn how to construct buildings in the most environmentally friendly way possible by working on real projects.

One project involved the use of sunflowers in southern France, which were used as a natural raw material in a house wall. If you take a bike ride through Asiat Park north of Brussels, you can admire another structure that was created in collaboration with 45 RWTH students and an artist. The pavilion consists of blocks of pressed earth and a thatched façade. It was built in Asiat Park for the "Horst Art and Music Festival" to house an artist’s video game installation. The pavilion has remained in the park even after the festival ended.

Professor Bekemans finds this combination of practice and theory in teaching particularly exciting. "In my work as an architect, I implement specific projects, while my research allows me to delve deeper into the technical aspects," he says. He has observed a growing interest in sustainable construction among his students. However, he also wants to prompt companies to rethink the way they do things. "Changing established procedures is one of the biggest challenges that we face," explains Bekemans. He believes that RWTH Aachen University offers the most promising opportunities for bringing about sustainable changes in the way we build. His field of expertise is making a significant contribution: "Architecture is one of the best tools for creating change," he says with confidence.

While his focus on sustainable architecture was initially viewed as somewhat niche by experts, Bekemans’ expertise is now in demand on an international scale. Before being appointed at RWTH, Bekemans taught at the Faculty of Architecture at KU Leuven in Belgium for almost ten years. Prior to that, he was a guest lecturer at the German University of Technology in Oman for a year.

Laurens Bekemans’ research and teaching at RWTH Aachen University helps to advance sustainable architecture and establish it in practice. The extension of his junior professorship gives him another three years to set a new course - for students, for construction practice, and for an architecture that not only utilizes the environment, but also protects it at the same time.