Rooted in history

The architecture studio Dertien12 is located in Bruges, the hometown of the three partners Tom Gantois, Lennart Claeys, and Peter Bernaerts. For them, this historically rich city provides fertile ground for taking an idiosyncratic position and working in a future-oriented way. Since the agency was founded 15 years ago, Dertien12 has chosen to base its office in vacant buildings, like an urban nomad. In this way, the team actively seeks local engagement and remains closely connected to the urban context.

Based on this connection, Dertien12 created in collaboration with De Republiek the lecture series ‘Letters to the City’ and the city expedition ‘We Wake The City’. With these initiatives, they inspire policymakers, residents, and their own team in their role as active city makers in Bruges. Their built work also exudes a similar ambition for connection. The agency actively pursues sustainable relationships, for example by maintaining an active relationship with the client long after completion or by engaging in collaborations with partners from other disciplines. Artists are invited to respond to the architectural work, and Dertien12 is building a special collection of high-profile art integrations related to their projects.

The importance of connectedness is also evident in the project for the cultural house De Republiek (2018, Bruges), which shows how physical ‘brick-and-mortar’ renovation and ‘mental’ renovation can go hand in hand. Dertien12 is currently working on a meeting center in Lissewege, a pilot project on circular construction, in which the earth from the site itself is literally used for building and a contemporary interpretation of the local building tradition is sought.