ONO architectuur
ONO architectuur was established in 2007 by Gert Somers and Jonas Lindekens after winning the competition for the community center in Bocholt. The practice is interested in very diverse projects that allow engaging in the broad range of activities that architectural design entails. Contradicting the tendency towards increasing specialization, ono aims to practice architecture as a craft that considers the building in its entirety: from doorbell to urban ensemble. The act of constructing forms a continuous drive for the design of our projects. Conventional building materials are used and shown as they are (and are allowed to age), yet form peculiar figures and spaces. Traditional building components are precisely shaped to achieve a perfect coherence between plan, section, facade and perspective. Yet, they depart from commonplace images to enable new interpretations and references. In this way, ono architectuur pursues an architectural language that is able to connect to the local context, its past as well as its future.
The office gained its first experience and attention with the building for the community center in Bocholt, a children’s shoe shop Deruyte in Belsele and the renovation and extension of the Unesco protected town hall of Diksmuide. Later, also scenography has become a part of the office’s work, with the design for the exhibition Ravage in Museum M, Leuven, and the Art Brussels art fair. Recently, the manor Altena in Kontich, housing developments Cadix and Falconhoven in Antwerp, and the office building INAGRO in Beitem were completed. Currently, the office is involved in the refurbishment of an office building in Antwerp and the reconversion of the Neerhoeve on the cemetery Schoonselhof in Antwerp. Besides theses public projects, ono architectuur is working on several housing developments in Ghent (Tondelier) and three single family houses in Flanders.
Gert Somers studied engineer-architect at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and obtained his diploma in 2002. He became a Young Flemish Designer within the framework of the Meesterproef 2003 of the Vlaams Bouwmeester. He worked for noA architects and started his practice in 2004 before founding ono architecture together with Jonas Lindekens in 2007. Gert Somers taught at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel from 2006-2009 and was a lecturer in Architectural Design at the chair Interiors, Buildings, Cities at TU Delft 2011-2015.
Jonas Lindekens studied architecture and engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London and obtained his diploma in 1998. He obtained his doctorate in Engineering Sciences - Architecture in 2006 with research on the design aspects of the reuse of buildings. After his internship at Meta architecture office, he founded ono architecture together with Gert Somers in 2007. Jonas Lindekens has been teaching at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel since 1999 and is professor of Architectural Design, 2nd master since 2005.
