Crepain Binst Architecture

Crepain Binst Architecture, which was founded 2006, is the result of a creative marriage between architect and urban development experts Jo Crepain and Luc Binst

Structure

A team of 40 architectural engineers, architects, interior architects and urban development experts work in this multidisciplinary company. Today, after the death of Jo Crepain (2008), the founder of our company, we are faced with the extraordinary challenge of continuing his architectural legacy and ensuring that the collaboration that began three years ago at Crepain Binst Architecture, will be continued and built upon in a worthy manner with renewed ambition. Luc Binst has now taken over the company earlier than planned. This takeover was accompanied by several important management adjustments intended to strengthen the office internally and prepare it for its "second youth", as Jo so often put it. The new management structure is built upon a "managerial clover leaf" construction. In addition to Luc Binst as CEO, it consists of Architect Partner Dirk Engelen, Architect Jan Geerts, COO Jan Vrancken.

Operating Procedure

All projects are monitored by Luc Binst, Dirk Engelen and Jan Geerts to safeguard the creative and building technical quality of all projects. A project manager ensures the continuity during the entire length of a project. Designs are always developed in workshop sessions. At least three basic concepts are proposed for each project. These are then examined under all angles, then filtered further to reach a final architectural view.

Competitions

The company mainly owes its name and reputation to the fact that it has won several national and international architecture competitions, for both completed and current projects such as an energy-efficient office for the West Flemish Energy Company, the Arteveld College and many other projects. These competitions provide a focus for the firm's professionalism, dynamism and ambition.

Urban Development

The firm handles various urban development projects both in Belgium and in the Netherlands, of which the most eye-catching ones are: De Balije, 850 houses in Leidsche Rijn; the redevelopment of the Boel dockyard site in Temse; land developments in Wondelgem and Kuringen, each involving 500 houses and flat and the urban development plan for the New South area in Antwerp: 1000 homes and 150.000m² of office space in the first urban expansion on the right bank since 1930.

Architecture

The office boasts a very wide range of experience, ranging from homes to large residential complexes, school buildings, town halls, industrial buildings and offices, both new constructions and renovation. The most important actualisations are: the Artevelde College in Ghent, the awarded offices of the West Flemish Energy Company in Torhout (2020 Challenge), the renovation of Dexia Pachecolaan Brussels; the newly-built Renson office in Waregem that bagged an energy-award; the newly constructed Telindus office in Haasrode which was also voted best commercial building of 2003; the Town Hall in Lommel. Projects that are currently underway include: apartments at the Jordaens quay and Antwerp Island; the renovation of Belgacom’s Telex building in Brussels and many more. In the Netherlands, the Wladivostok complex on Java-island in Amsterdam, the 175 luxury apartments along the Ijssel and the 55 apartments in Polstreet, both in Deventer, the castle of Haverleij in 's Hertogenbosch, the Carré with 145 homes in Etten-Leur, and the 100 apartments in Limos in Nijmegen, are amongst the most well-known projects. The development of some other complexes are in full swing, such as: IJburg Amsterdam, Gershwin Amsterdam, Lot 3A on the Oosterdok island in Amsterdam and Presikhaaf in Arnhem.

Interior & Design

Interior and architecture together form a whole, one story and are consequently linked to each another as a single creative mother tongue and form an important discipline within the company. With our interior team of complementary employees, we are able to provide full support for all architectural assignments or develop detailed plans for an interior. In this, we base ourselves on an extremely extensive reference library of materials, techniques and refined details, completing the architectural package with a high degree of perfection. Innovation, expression and character form the basis and the ingredients of this team striving towards a platform of international flair and representation. In addition to our assignments, visits to important international interior exhibitions and the seeking out of new materials, we have, since last year, successfully focussed on various interior competitions. Both projects for "Grand Bazar" and the "MAS Founder Pavilion" in Antwerp underscore these ambitions and demonstrate our clear concepts and statements within the discipline of interiors. Comprehensive renovations with new interiors such as "The House of Marketing" in Mechelen (former tax office) are also part of our diverse range. The main events of Autumn 2009 were the completion of a "White Loft" in Aalst, a duplex apartment on LO and the creation of the well-known "Bodart shop" and "Sette-Seven", the new restaurant/club concept in South Antwerp (Luikstraat 7).

Book: Crepain Binst Architecture 09

2009 was an unusual year of transition and acclimatisation in which we regained our balance, while facing the economic crisis and the process of coming to terms with Jo's death. Our professional attitude and service enabled us to maintain our values and quality standards and all CBA's current projects remained with the firm. This strengthened our ambition and resolve, and we embarked on a sort of second youth as we continued to give shape to what is essentially a life's work. 2009's Green Book, with its 4th compact annual review is most definitely a worthy successor to the golden book. It symbolically focuses on the "3 energy prizes" that we won within the space of one year; the Region of Brussels Energy Competition for the Telex building in Brussels, the international "Green Good Design Award" for the renowned Renson building in Waregem and the "2020 Challenge" public award for Infrax's newly constructed main headquarters in Torhout!