Stéphane Beel on His Career and the Architect's Role in Society

In a video interview for the series Past, Present, Future: exploring the role of architects across time, curated by Itinerant Office, Belgian architect Stéphane Beel (born 1955) shares insights about his professional journey. He established Stéphane Beel Architecten in the early 1980s alongside partners Sophie Deheegher, Tom Ryckaert, and Tom Cortoos. His diverse portfolio features private homes, educational institutions, offices, and cultural sites, including the Rubens House pavilion in Antwerp, the Roger Raveel Museum in Machelen-Zulte, and the Museum of Middle Africa in Tervuren, which is the largest museum focused on Central Africa and underwent expansion and renovation completed in 2018. Beel's early interest in architecture was ignited by visits to Villa Savoye in Paris and a Marcel Duchamp exhibition at the Centre Pompidou. He values experiential learning, recalling how he constructed his first project independently using basic materials. Beel explains his firm's approach, where a single designer oversees each project from inception to completion, and he encourages architects to engage with communities, grasp societal needs, and maintain humility. Looking ahead, he highlights the significance of manual skills and drawing, cautioning against over-reliance on technology. Additionally, Beel has taught at the universities of Ghent and Bruges.