Community project framed by green spaces of great ecological value. Neerland by B-architecten

B-architecten, B-bis, B-city, B-juxta. Back in 1997, Evert Crols, Dirk Engelen and Sven Grooten set up an independent office for architecture: B-architecten was born. The three had met during their education in Antwerp and Amsterdam. At the internationally oriented Berlage Institute, it became clear that Evert, Dirk and Sven shared a common design interest. Today, the office is located in Antwerp and Brussels.

Ten years after the foundation of B-architecten, they started a new initiative together with Sebastiaan Leroy: B-bis architecten became an office that focuses on small architectural projects, residential interior design, offices and shops, scenographies for exhibitions and performing arts, temporary installations and furniture design.

In 2020, B-city was launched as a third B-platform with the aim to shape and supervise complex urban projects. The core of its ambition is to work on large-scale projects that carry the potential of becoming new city districts.

Today, B is the sum of four studio divisions called B-architecten, B-bis, B-city and B-juxta have naturally grown into an office of more than 60 people. Each B-team has its particular focus and way of functioning, yet they all share a distinct innovative view on the variety of projects the B-platforms stand for.

Since 1997 Karres en Brands has worked on diverse projects, studies and competitions, both at home and abroad. The studio was founded by Sylvia Karres, Bart Brands. Their work encompasses every scale of spatial design, from area strategies and infrastructural projects to parks and gardens, and from urban planning assignments to product design. With this they rely on their enthusiasm and craftsmanship, and they continuously broaden their outlook towards developing appropriate and innovative responses to the challenges of today.

Sylvia Karres (1956) studied landscape architecture at the Rijks Hogere School voor Tuin- en Landschapsinrichting (State College of Gardening and Landscaping) in Boskoop and at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam. She has previously worked at Bureau Maas, as well as for the Province of North Holland, and for ten years as a designer and project manager at Bureau Bakker and Bleeker (now B+B) in Amsterdam. In 1997, she founded the office of Karres en Brands together with Bart Brands. Sylvia is director and co-owner of Karres en Brands.

Bart Brands (1962) studied landscape architecture at the Rijks Hogere School voor Tuin- en Landschapsinrichting (State College of Gardening and Landscaping) in Boskoop and, thereafter, a few years of urbanism at the Academy of Architecture in Amsterdam. After an inspiring start working for the municipality of The Hague, he worked at Bureau Bakker and Bleeker (now B+B) from 1991 to 1996 and then, in 1997, founded the office of Karres en Brands landscape architects together with Sylvia Karres. Bart is director and co-owner of Karres en Brands.

Their commitment is based on the belief that through their projects they can make a contribution to an attractive, healthy and sustainable environment, now and later. They create designs with a powerful identity, strongly related to the specific context, but also resilient and open enough to respond to uncertain futures, without loss of clarity and hierarchy.

They see asking questions and giving insight as the basis of the design process. Their plans develop in close dialogue with the client and society. Their role, therefore, is never explicit, but instead based on customisation and a balance between control and participation. They are passionate builders, and contribute to the success of a plan together with good patronage.