14/06/06 - 08/04 Venice Palazzo Michiel. The Bronks Youth Theatre Brussels and the Canopy House Pajottenland are featured in the exhibition MADE IN EUROPE
25 YEARS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PRIZE - MIES VAN DER
ROHE AWARD, Collateral Event of the 14th International Architecture
Exhibition - la Biennale di Venezia - www.miesarch.com

Venice, June 2014_ The European Commission and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe present “Made in Europe”, an exhibition tracing 25 years of European architecture in the Palazzo Michiel from June 7th to August 4th coinciding with Biennale Architettura 2014.
This exhibition highlights the archives of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – Mies van der Rohe Award, begun in 1988. It offers visitors a unique overview of the evolution of architecture in Europe over the past 25 years. The archive, held by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe in Barcelona, is Europe's biggest collection of documents on contemporary architecture, with more than 2,500 projects and 230 original models. “2013 marked the 25th anniversary of the Prize, and we decided to revisit the archive,” says Giovanna Carnevali, director of the Fundació Mies van der Rohe. “This raw archive is physical evidence of time. It has the potential for multiple interpretations: different “histories” are made possible, illustrating the richness and the evolution of national architectures.”
The Foundation offices are in the 1929 German Pavilion in Barcelona, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, demolished after the International Exhibition and reconstructed on the original site in 1986. “This reproduction became a document itself, the "Zero Document". This is the origin of the archive, which correspondingly consists of documents and reproductions that help us analyse the past and imagine the future of architecture in Europe,” says Carnevali.
Visitors to the exhibition will discover how modern architecture over the last century has eroded the singularities of each European nation’s style. Can we then still talk about national architecture? Moreover, is there a “Europeanness” in architecture? Is there a distinguishing feature in European architecture beyond the fact that it is “Made in Europe”?
Although arranged thematically (collective housing, education, cultural centres, etc.), the archive documents are exhibited without context. Viewed together, they can provide many different answers to questions like: what does collective housing mean? What are cultural centres? How are offices designed? These answers, although diverse, share a common European cultural definition of habitation and its application in architecture. They also bring to light the complexity underlying the “Made in Europe” concept. 
The exhibition is divided into four areas: “Models,” “Data,” “Voices,” and “Making of.”
Models. The first and second galleries contain a selection of 145 original models by the Prize finalists. A timeline of the last 25 years in Europe also highlights links between developments in politics, science, culture and architecture.
Data. This is the core of the exhibition: almost 2,500 projects by nominees over the last 25 years of the European Prize. The project sketches construct
 he space and shape a pathway through walls of file cards on a 25x25cm grid, making the visitor experience the physical presence of architecture “Made in Europe”. A QR code on each project is linked to the online database, making the exhibition interactive, along with a dedicated Wi-Fi connection to facilitate an up-to-date interpretation of contemporary architecture.
Making of. The production of the “Made in Europe” exhibition was realised by a group of 15 students from the Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitecturade Barcelona - Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, whose intense work of opening and revising all the projects in the archive has been full of surprises, somewhat like Walter Benjamin unpacking his library.
The "Made in Europe" exhibition will host two symposia.
The first will be the “European-ness porosity” symposium on the same day as the inauguration ceremony on June 6th. This forum will also be a meeting point for the Commissioners of the different pavilions and previous Prize winners. At the second symposium, in mid-July, past winners of the Emerging Architects category of the Prize and other young and talented architects will discuss the contemporary European architectural scene.

14/02/13 Martine De Maeseneer, 'Aphasia and Atopia’, lecture at the Faculty of Creative Industries, University of Saint Joseph, Macau, China

‘The sequins turned up again like a leitmotiv. Philip Steadman and I drove to Kansas City to find Goff. His office was in a well-rounded brick building by John Root. The door we were looking for was occupied. Through the opaline could be seen a shadow of an arm high up. The shadow moved closer and a sequin sparkled through the glass. Goff was at work decorating his own door. A large table was covered with trays of sequins and other decorative materials. He continued to work as he talked.’ Lionel March 

Aphasia and Atopia I’ll talk about ‘calligraphy’ (i.e. the art of drawing beautiful letters) and ‘transcendentalism’; give a brief insight in European philosophy. I’ll do this story wise using Bruce Goff’s architecture, René Magritte’s painting, develop things in three steps into a most improbable plot. (I’ll talk about American issues but I hope not to disappoint the Chinese).

14/02/07 – 14/02/14 MDMA is invited by Ole Bouman Creative Director Urbanism\Architecture Bi-City Biennale Shenzhen 2013 for the Value Factory Architects in Residence program as part of the 5th Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture.

As an Architect in Residence MDMA is assigned to guide the Value Factory Academy workshop that takes place from February 7th until February 14th and to give a public lecture on Sunday February 9th.

 

The 5th UABB Architects in Residence program has several objectives: to contribute to the exploration of architectural qualities in industrial heritage; to activate the Value Factory as UABB venue; to help testing the Value Factory Academy; and to teach Chinese Academy members how to translate architecture observations into design actions

 MDMA ‘s residency focuses on the following theme and objectives: Development of new future visions for the Shekou industrial area, with the focus onto the future opportunities and the intrinsic spatial qualities of the glass factory as cultural/economic motor of the surrounding Shekou site. During the workshop week different teams will investigate several scenarios for the Shekou site and how this can develop in an interesting future urban community. As an 'architect in residence’ the Brussels office MDMA l Martine De Maeseneer Architects (Martine De Maeseneer & Laure Vandenbroucke) will, in collaboration with the local Hong Kong office Ereka Design (Annette Chu & Gabriel Lee), steer a research process of 10 teams (50 value factory academy members) put at their disposal for the Value Factory Academy Workshop.

13/11/29 Bronks Youth Theatre published in 'Constructing Europe l 25 years of Architecture', Edited by Diane Gray, European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture Mies ven der Rohe Award

A selection of 68 projects constructed throughout Europe over the last 25 years.
As a part of the activities that will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award, this catalogue explains the value of the Prize as a platform for discovery and debate about two main topics: the historical value of the Prize as a demonstration of the significance of European architecture, and the Award's role as a mechanism for bringing up topics of concern in today's European architecture, and as a process that contributes to building an architectural and urban discourse, both in Europe and throughout the world. The works of the last 25 years are essential tools for defining the future in the upcoming years.
13/12/03 - 13/12/04 Keynote speaker for DesignEd Asia Conference 2013 in Hong Kong. The DesignEd Asia Conference is a key event under the programme of Business of Design Week (BODW) with Belgium as partner country this year.

Organisation: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design, Hong Kong Design Institute (member of VTC Group) and Hong Kong Design Centre

Theme: 'delimitation - creating with constraints'

 

“Any kind of design education should give students a conscious awareness of constraints – both beneficial and harmful, chosen and imposed – and provide them with the critical skills to assess the relevance and importance of the constraints and to explore the possibilities presented by the array of constraints that characterise a given design project. The limits of the thinkable, the makeable, the affordable, the acceptable, the saleable, the defensible, and the communicable define the boundaries of the multidimensional space of possibilities navigated by the design process.”

Link:
http://www.DesignEdAsia.com
www.bodw.com

13/04/10 Lecture at the Technion University in Haifa, Israel + workshop April10-12, 2013 around harbour relocation in Tel Aviv.
12/11/26 Bronks Youth Theatre featured in the exhibition 'Procuring Innovative Architecture' curated by Leon van Schaik.From Nov26, 2012 until Jan 2013 in the Dessa Gallery, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
12/07/18 European Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 - 'Europe's Best Buildings'
at the Architekturzentrum Wien - Old hall, Austria  - exhibition (with catalogue) July18-Oct 8, 2012 by the Fundació Mies van der Rohe — Barcelona

Opening: Wednesday, July 18 2012, 19:00
Speakers:
Dietmar Steiner, Director of the Az W
Diane Gray, Exhibition curator, Fundació Mies van der Rohe — Barcelona
Hannes Swoboda, Leader of the S&D Group in the European Parliament

The Mies van der Rohe Award, one of the most significant and prestigous prizes for architecture in Europe, is a shared initiative between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe — Barcelona. Prize money totalling EUR 80.000 is awarded following a competition every two years (First Prize: EUR 60.000, Emerging Architect Prize: EUR 20.000).

The key aim is to provide recognition and critical acclaim for exceptional achievements in the field of architecture within the Europe. Projects are awarded prizes whose innovative character serves as orientation, even as manifestos, for the development of contemporary architecture. The award is intended to promote the profession and as encouragement for young architects at the outset of their careers. Both prizes, the main prize and the Emerging Architect Prize, are awarded for exceptional achievements in conceptual, technical and structural terms.

Six finalists were selected from the 343 projects nominated by European institutions and experts in 2011 — the eminent members of the jury were ultimately most convinced by the Neues Museum in Berlin by David Chipperfield Architects in collaboration with Julian Harrap. Special Mention for the Emerging Architect 2011 went to Ramon Bosch and Bet Capdeferro for the Collage House in Girona. A total of 45
exceptional building projects from all over Europe are shown in the touring exhibition on the basis of of plans and photographs, as well as numerous models. The exhibition at the Az W is enhanced by the virtual
presence of around 20 additional nominations with Austrian participation, providing a unique survey of the most exceptional Austrian architecture projects in recent years.

A catologue is to be presented at the exhibition showing the works selected by the jury: the prize-winners, the finalists and shortlisted projects.

Exhibition curator: Diane Gray, Fundació Mies van der Rohe — Barcelona
Project management, Az W: Katharina Ritter, Karoline Mayer

Public Funding:
Geschäftsgruppe Stadtentwicklung und Verkehr
Bundesministerium für Unterricht, Kunst und Kultur
Geschäftsgruppe Kultur und Wissenschaft
Sponsor: ARCHITECTURE LOUNGE
12/07/17 WAF l World Architecture Festival 2012 Singapore
Bronks Youth Theatre Brussels by MDMA shortlisted for the WAF2012 culture award.

Final prize will be awarded during the festival in Singapore, Oct3-5, 2012 - venue Marina Bay Sands
12/06/19 Venice Architecture Biennale 2012, Italy
Bronks Youth Theatre featured in the exhibition 'Procuring Innovative Architecture', curated by Leon van Shaik at the Australian Pavilion, Giardini
Aug29 - Nov25, 2012 (preview on Aug27-28)

The 13th International Architecture Exhibition, entitled 'Common Ground', is directed by David Chipperfield.
12/03/22 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture - Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 at Museum M, Leuven, Belgium -
exhibition (with catalogue) from March22 - April28, 2012
Dialogue Thursday April5, 2012 @ 20h 
 
Organisation : Stad en Architectuur vzw & Fundació Mies van der Rohe en M – Museum Leuven


‘Stad en Architectuur’ brings with the Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 a collection of the most prestigious European Contemporary architecture towards Museum M.
For the 2011 award exhibition and catalogue an international jury selected 45 building that have been realized the last two year in Europe. 7 Belgian nominations where selected for the shortlist and the Bronks Youth Theatre by MDMA in Brussels became the first Belgian finalist.

On this occasion Museum M is organizing following events :
 
EXHIBITION :
THURSDAY March22 until April28, 2012
M - Museum Leuven, antichambre, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven
 
JURYMEMBER OLE BOUMAN AND CRITIC PIETER T’JONCK IN DIALOGUE ABOUT EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE
Thursday April 5 at 20h - M-Museum Leuven, Auditorium, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 28, 3000 Leuven
12/02/08 European Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 - 'Panorama de l’Architecture Européenne'
at the ‘Cité de l’architecture & du patrimoine, Palais de Chaillot / Institut français d’architecture’ - exhibition (with catalogue) Febr8 - March4, 2012



The winning project, the Neues Museum (Berlin, Germany) by David Chipperfield Archtiects, and the 5 finalists : Bronks Youth Theatre (Brussels, Belgium) by MDMA - Martine De Maeseneer Architects, MAXXI : Museum of XXI Century Arts (Rome, Italy) by Zaha Hadid Architects, Concert House Danish Radio (Copenhagen, Denmark) by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Acropolis Museum (Athens, Greece) by Bernard Tschumi Architects, Rehabilitation Centre Groot Klimmendaal (Arnhem, The Netherlands) by Architectenbureau Koen van Velsen, and the Collage House (Girona, Spain) by Ramon Bosch and Bet Capdeferro (Emerging Architect Special Mention) will be shown in model, drawings and images, together with another 39 selected projects for catalogue and exhibition.
11/11/29 European Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 at the Roca London Gallery, UK - exhibition from Nov29, 2011 until January 27, 2012

The exhibition about the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architeture - Mies van der Rohe Award opens in the brand new Roca London Gallery designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, from November 28 till January 27, 2012. The winning project, the Neues Museum (Berlin, Germany) by David Chipperfield Architects, and the 5 finalists: Bronks Youth Theatre (Brussels, Belgium) by MDMA – Martine De Maeseneer Architects, MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts (Rome, Italy) by Zaha Hadid Architects, Concert House Danish Radio (Copenhagen, Denmark) by Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Acropolis Museum (Athens, Greece) by Bernard Tschumi Architects, Rehabilitation Centre Groot Klimmendaal (Arnhem, The Netherlands) Architectenbureau Koen van Velsen, and the Collage House (Girona, Spain) by Ramon Bosch and Bet Capdeferro (Emerging Architect Special Mention) will be shown in model, drawings and images.
11/06/20 European Mies van der Rohe Award 2011 - Granting Ceremony. First-ever Belgian finalist : The BrOnks Youth Theater by Martine De Maeseneer Architects (MDMA) - A Delicate Balance

The prestigious European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture, otherwise known as the
Mies van der Rohe Award, is intended to celebrate innovative buildings that make a demonstrable contribution to the vitality and sustainability of the contemporary European city. On June 20, the 2011 prize will be awarded at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona to the British architect David Chipperfield’s Neues Museum Berlin, chosen from a shortlist of 343 nominated buildings across 33 countries. The six finalists also included the first-ever Belgian finalist: the BrOnks Youth Theater by MDMA (the partnership of Martine De Maeseneer and Dirk Van den Brande).


Text by Thomas Daniell

As the first public building realized by MDMA, the BrOnks Youth Theater represents the culmination of two decades of practical and theoretical investigations. Indeed, the project has been underway throughout most of MDMA’s career – four distinct projects were designed for two different sites over a period of fourteen years. The final version was commissioned in 2002 by the Flemish Community Commission of the Brussels Capital Region and opened to the public in 2009. BrOnks (an acronym for Brussel Onderwijs Kunst, or Brussels Education Art) synthesizes many of the spatial and compositional ideas present in MDMA’s earlier work, while taking a provocative stance on the question of how an architect might intervene in a historical city.

There are two main approaches to designing contemporary architecture for a traditional setting. The first is to mimic the existing, to blend in by making a more-or-less authentic pastiche of local vernacular building styles. The second is to contrast with the existing, to stand out by making an aggressive juxtaposition of incongruous forms and materials with the intention of enhancing and clarifying the qualities of both the historical context and the new building. Given the irreconcilable demands being placed on the architect, it is rare for either approach to be fully satisfactory. Mimicry tends to be seen as inimical to the designer’s creativity and the city’s vitality – and, ironically, as damaging to the integrity of the very context to which it is ostensibly respectful. Contrast, on the other hand, all too often results in little more than temporary shock value that soon looks dated and awkward within the timelessness of its historical setting.

Set on a picturesque street in the heart of Brussels, the BrOnks takes a third approach, integrating with its context by means of analogy, extension, and occasional friction. Fitting precisely into the space available between its immediate neighbors, reinforcing the continuity of the roof profiles and eave lines along the street, the façade is a fully glazed wall, its profile distorted like a stage curtain in the process of being raised. Visible beyond the street façade is a second, inner façade, a floating wall containing large glazed cutouts that MDMA describes as a passe-partout (the border mat that sits behind the glass in a picture frame). Transparent yet alive with shifting reflections, the radical openness of the glass wall makes a striking contrast with the sober stone façades and relatively small windows that dominate the surroundings – most vividly at dusk, as the BrOnks begins to glow like an enormous lantern, the silhouettes of people moving within only adding to the spectacle. 

Yet this apparent permeability is not quite what it seems. The glazed façade does not open – the main entry and subentry are located either side – and while it may reveal the activities in the rehearsal hall within, immediately on the other side of the glass is a wide slot in the floor, a chasm open to the reception area on the basement level. The floor of the rehearsal hall itself is offset a meter above street level, another of the many disjunctions within the building that simultaneously invite and rebuff visitors as they move through it. In a sense, the architecture of the BrOnks is mostly interstitial, a negotiation between imposed constraints. The building footprint is defined by the template of existing buildings and streets, and the building volume is forced partially underground by the legal height limit. Programmatic and acoustic requirements define the sizes and proportions of the two primary functional volumes, the rehearsal hall and theater. They seem to be loosely suspended within the building shell, unrelated to the ground level datum. Attention is focused on the spaces that mediate between the outer walls and the two inner boxes: a café above and reception area below, all linked by a web of stairs, ramps, and corridors comprising unexpected physical and visual connections. At each intermediate landing on the central double-helical stair is an element that MDMA calls the “septum”: a rotating mirror-clad panel that is used to separate or connect the independent public and private circulation systems.  

The atmosphere throughout is robust and industrial, mostly bare concrete surfaces and volumes bathed in natural light. These raw, hardwearing spaces are counterbalanced by moments of extreme refinement, such as the smooth red counter in the reception area and the woven steel plates of the café ceiling structure. The BrOnks Youth Theater is an architecture of paradox and deliberate contradiction, at once assertive and reticent, open and generous to its historical surroundings while sequestering a new, alternative world within. Sitting amid buildings that date back several centuries, the BrOnks oscillates between deference and impudence toward its elders – a very appropriate sensibility for an institution dedicated to nurturing and channeling youthful talent.


Thomas Daniell is a New Zealand-born, Japan-based architect and writer. His books include After the Crash: Architecture in Post-Bubble Japan (2008) and Houses and Gardens of Kyoto (2010).
11/05/03 Memphis in May A Salute to Belgium. Lecture by Martine De Maeseneer - www.memphisinmay.org
11/05/04 UIC Chicago Jury member final reviews of the graduate research studios - www.arch.uic.edu
11/03/22 Mies van der Rohe Prize 2011 EU.  Bronks Youth Theatre Brussels one of the six FINALISTs for the 2011 EU Prize for Contemporay Architecture - The European Commission and the Mies van der Rohe Foundation today announced the six finalists competing for the 2011 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture – the Mies van der Rohe Award. They have been shortlisted from 343 works in 33 European countries. The award ceremony will take place on June 20 at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion in Barcelona, Spain.
"Our finalists have two things in common - they are European and they are among the world's most visionary architects. The EU Prize celebrates their talent and showcases the economic, social and cultural importance of our creative industries", said Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

The 6 finalists are :
- Bronks Youth Theatre, Brussels, Belgium (Martine De Maeseneer Architects MDMA)
- Concert House Danish Radio, Kopenhaguen, Denmark (Ateliers Jean Nouvel)
- Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany (David Chipperfield Architects)
- Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece (Bernard Tschumi Architects)
- MAXXI : Museum of the XXI Century Arts, Rome, Italy (Zaha Hadid Architects)
- Rehabilitation Centre Groot Klimmendaal, Arnhem, the Netherlands (Architectenbureau Koen Van Velsen)

more info : www.miesarch.com

11l Selection Provincial Architecture publication, West Flanders (BE)_External jury member
10/11/19 Mies van der Rohe Prize 2011 The Bronks Youth Theatre Brussels  and the Canopy House Pajottenland Belgium, nominated. www.miesarch.com
09l01 Angewante Kunst, Vienna, Oostenrijk (AT)_external jury member
08l Euregional Prize for Architecture (BE)_External jury member
07l FAB Awards for Architecture (BE)_External jury member
07l Godecharle prize for Architecture (BE)_External jury member
06l Selection Provincial Architecture publication, West Flanders (BE)_External jury member
03l "Archiprix The Netherlands" (NL)_external jury member
03l Provincial Prize for Architecture, East Flanders (BE) - laureaat: José Van Hee_External jury member
03l Provincial Prize for Architecture, Brabant - laureate 54N4E (BE)_External jury member
02l09 2nd International Bauhaus Award Dessau (DE)_External Jury Member
02l Competition for Flemish Administrative Center for Leuven (VAC) - laureate Elia Zengelis + Eleni Gigantes (Brussels, BE)_External jury member
01l "Archiprix International 2001" (NL)_assisting on the international jury
98l Competition for Flemish Administrative Center (VAC) for Hasselt - laureate Bob Van Reeth (Antwerpen, BE)_External jury member
97l vol 56 Transition, Architectural Magazine, Melbourne
 Martine De Maeseneer - Ideality-3-Lost, book in the series "Books-By-Architects", edited by Joel Benzakin&Michele Lachowsky, La Lettre volée Brussels_by Leon van Schaik, dean RMIT Melbourne
96l vol 2 Archis, Dutch Magazine for Architecture, City and Visual Culture, Rotterdam
96l11l14 - 97l02l1    "Ideality-3-Lost" te Brussel, pp.4-5 -  individuele tentoonstelling - " Encore... Bruxelles", Uniteé de production & creation Contemporaine_editorial by Ole Bouman
96l12 "Ideality-3-Lost" te Brussel, at the occasion of the individual exhibition - "Encore... Bruxelles", Uniteé de production & creation Contemporaine, 96l11l14 - 97l02l_TV-Production, RingTV
93l  "The In-di-visible Space" at Antwerp, at the occasion of the individual exhibition - International Art Center deSingel, 93l03l18 - 93l04l18_TV-Production, BRT "Affiche"
RMIT University Melbourne, School of Architecture+Design, dean: Leon van Schaik (AUS)_External Jury Member
Architectural Association School London - chairman: Brett Steele & Mohsen Mostafavi (UK)_External Jury Member
The Berlage Institute Rotterdam (NL) - postgraduate laboratory(dean: Alejandro Zaero-Polo & Wiel Arets)_External Jury Member
Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (UK) -Graduate Studies(dean:Peter Cook)_External Jury Member
Städelschule, Staatliche Hochschule < <a href="http://projekt-slemien.eu/image/bought.php">Buy Watch</a> <a href="http://cudnebeskidy.pl/laught.php">Daniel Steiger Watches</a> <a href="http://bygodt.com/cinema.php">Oceanaut watches</a> für Bildende Künste, Frankfurt am Main (DE) - Postgraduate Studies (director: Kasper König-dean Enric Miralles, unitl 2000) _External Jury Member