With 250,000 inhabitants Ghent is, ­after Brussels and Antwerp, the smallest of Belgium’s three major cities. Its medieval heart and densely built-up surrounding residential areas provide a varied cityscape. In addition to a ­diverse building stock the local ­architecture school provides a fertile breeding ground for contemporary architecture.

Moreover, Belgians place a high value on the acquisition of one’s own home. Small residential projects for young families form the majority of commissions for newly ­established practices and a local style has developed, which is characterized by radical solutions, raw materiality and a collage-like plasticity.