Bao Podcast #12 Sven Grooten (B-architecten)
Apr 21, 2022
Sven Grooten, co-founder of B-architecten, shares insights from his innovative architectural journey. He discusses how collaborative training at the Berlage Institute shaped his studio's ethos. Sven dives into cultural differences in land use, advocating for circularity and material reuse in design. He emphasizes the need for architecture education in schools and calls for stronger public control over land to prevent greenfield development. With a vision for more sustainable practices, he highlights the shifting values of younger generations towards sharing and reuse.
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Early Win Launched The Office
- Sven Grooten won a major open competition for the Beursschouwburg in Brussels while still studying at the Berlage Institute.
- That unexpected win launched B-architecten and shaped its collaborative DNA.
Collaboration Over Architect Ego
- B-architecten chose an abstract name to emphasise collaboration over individual ego.
- The office treats design as collective improvement, not a single architect's signature.
Organize Teams By Project Scale
- Structure teams around scale: small interiors, architecture, and urbanism need distinct methods and clients.
- Create separate teams (B-bis, B-architecten, B-city) so each can specialise and apply appropriate processes.