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Warehouses, offices, stacked volumes, factories... What can we learn from the kinds of buildings that, at first glance, seem simply constructed? What makes them (re)usable and exceptional at the same time? BULK architecten investigate how paying greater attention to structure and construction can contribute to a more resilient, robust city.

The corona pandemic has shown how quickly the organisation of life and work can change. In tomorrow’s world, could an office function better as a residential building or school, or vice versa? What does climate change mean for the built environment? If we insist on creating new buildings, then we had better make sure they last. According to BULK architecten, buildings with a constructional and spatial surplus are better equipped to accommodate changes in use and techniques. They provide a framework for a circular building economy.

But the realisation of robust, open buildings still encounters many obstacles. The initial infill too often determines the design, resulting in ‘bespoke architecture’. Beautiful on completion, but quickly outdated. Due to the unbalanced collaboration between architect and engineer, the construction rarely forms the basis of a design. As a result, the much-desired excess space is under pressure from the very beginning.

How can architects, engineers, developers, contractors and governments contribute to the creation of long-term value? In Construct, BULK goes in search of tools for a changing practice. They have selected eleven different buildings in Flanders, Brussels and the Netherlands in which the structure can support changes in interpretation and use over time. Archival research and site visits provide the basis for a matrix in which the eleven cases are given a place.