An Uninhibited Process

Decoratelier, based in Brussels, is a creative collective led by scenographer Jozef Wouters. Decoratelier is a multidisciplinary platform where artists, architects, artisans and local communities collaborate on projects that explore the boundaries between art, architecture and social engagement. A key characteristic of Decoratelier is its emphasis on process over result, leaving room for experimentation, mistakes, and unexpected outcomes. This practice is in line with Jozef Wouters' vision: architecture and scenography are not static objects, but continuous processes that continue to evolve in interaction with their users and environment. Only in a process of openness can you leave room for who and what falls outside the norm.

Projects by Decoratelier such as Flow (i.c.w. Pool is Cool) and the Olevodrome (i.c.w. non-profit association Erat), are emblematic of the idea of ‘architecture as process’. These projects are open, flexible and participatory. In Wouters' practice, architectural design is never completely finished. It involves an ongoing dialogue between creators, users and the environment that gives the space its meaning. In a design process, the unforeseen, including mistakes and failures, are not only inevitable but even necessary. Wouters approaches them as opportunities for new forms of creativity and collaborations and embraces them as a creative engine. This translates into spatial, often temporary, designs with a unique style of their own.