Vertical Connections. How does ar­chi­tec­tur­al education contribute to complex social challenges?

Imagine! In 2030, our region will be the European Capital of Culture with Leuven & Beyond, positioning itself as one of the most social, open, innovative and creative regions in Europe. This will undoubtedly have a huge impact on all sectors active in Leuven and East Brabant. What could this ambition mean for education?
 

In February 2023, the starting signal was given with the Leuven cultural sector. Not long after, LOV and the educational network Samen Onderwijs Maken (SOM) joined forces. Together, we will explore how culture and education can reinforce each other. Various partners within education and culture are getting involved in the Lab and starting a number of experiments that allow pupils and students to experience the value of art and culture for themselves. Radical connection.

Architectural education

In the project “Vertical Connections”, Stad & Architectuur is working with fifth-year architecture students from De Wijnpers secondary school to explore how architectural education and “design learning” can help tackle complex challenges.

What happens when we design space between the ground and the sky instead of the more common “on” the ground? With “vertical connection” as its mission, Stad & Architectuur encourages young people, clients, experts and supervisors to think more than ever in terms of the connection between people and the natural environment. They go deep and high, digging into the soil of Leuven and the living subsoil that inevitably determines and nourishes our everyday spatial living environment.

During the closing event on 1 April, the students presented their design proposals to a jury. In this architectural education lab, they worked on the assignment to design spatial interventions in the courtyard of Tweebronnen that would initiate vertical connections. With this assignment, they worked conceptually on answers to urgent ecological and social challenges.

The photo gallery below offers an impression of the results.