159th Edition – Zak World of Façades Belgium

This will be the 159th edition globally and the 1st edition in Brussels which will showcase sustainable innovations and challenges in the construction industry pertaining to the building envelope and will also display latest technological solutions.

Speakers & Panelists
Senior Project Architect, Jaspers-Eyers Architects
Bob graduated as an engineer at KU Leuven. After gaining expertise at several architectural companies, he started at Jaspers-Eyers in 2021. His main project is ZIN, the reconversion of the former WTC towers in Brussels. In his free time, Bob...
Sales Engineer, Axalta Coating Systems
Christian De Buyser is a dynamic force at the intersection of industrial sales and architectural innovation, bringing his experience as Sales Engineer for Belgium to the ZAK World of Facades. With a deep affinity for architecture, design, and color, Christian...
Business Development Director, Arcora
Diter BRAET grew up in Ghent in a family where his grandfather, uncles and cousins were/are architects. He decided to become a civil engineer, believing that technology should serve aesthetics. He graduated from the school CHEC in Paris in 2005...
Director, Clinquart Consulting
Etienne Clinquart graduated as Civil Engineer in Construction from the University of Ghent , Belgium, in 1983.  He has more than 34 years of experience in façade technologies .  He started in the company Groven in 1990 and created Groven+...
Director, Van Laere
With years of experience within site teams and several Class 8 construction companies,Sara is well established in managing people and large construction projects. Since 2018,she holds the position of Operational Director at Van Laere, where she leads withinprestigious projects such...
Project Architect, Atelier Kanal Architects
In 2008 Arabella became an architect and during 10 years she worked in The Netherlands, on several projects with different scales and challenges. Thereafter in 2018 she started as one of the project architects for the project Kanal, Brussels. With...
Project Manager, Nextensa
After her studies as an Architectural Engineer (KULeuven) and Master in Spatial Planning and Urban Development (Antwerp), Trees Verhoogen first worked for 10 years as a Building Project Manager for both the Province of Flemish Brabant and the Flemish government....
Associate Partner, ABT
Erwin is a structural designer with an integral mindset and passion for glass. With his creativity, significant technical knowledge and experience in complex glazed structures, he has worked on some of the most cutting edge glass designs in Europe, Mid-East...
CCO | Partner, B2Ai Architects
After obtaining a master’s in civil engineering and architecture (UGent), Simon Claeys followed a European management program (MBA) and a postgraduate course in renovation techniques and monument conservation (HoWest). He has participated in numerous prestigious projects, both in Belgium and...
Architect | Quality & Customer Support Façade Technical Team, Cosentino
After graduating as an Architect from the Madrid Technical School of Architecture at Polytechnic University(ETSAM-UPM), he has developed his career for more than 20 years in different companies in technical and commercial roles in relation to the design, sales  and...
Project Director, Befimmo Real Estate Group
Wim Plaum is a seasoned construction engineer with over 25 years of experience in project and property management. He graduated in 1994 with a focus on sustainable materials. After starting his career as a junior project manager at Starke Diekstra,...
Project Director, Bureau Greisch
Amaury Leroy is a structural engineer (MSc degree in Civil Engineering from the “Ecole polytechnique de Bruxelles”) living in Brussels, Belgium. He joined the “Bureau Greisch” in 2009 and currently heads the building department in Brussels. Passionate about complex projects,...
Partner | Director Research and Innovation, Archipelago Architects
Joost is a director and partner at archipelago architects. As the manager of the archipelago R&I team, he coordinates research projects and overlooks archipelago’s integrated sustainability approach. His expertise ranges from climate responsive design to simulation-driven performance-based design and circular...
Managing Director, Vorsselmans
Mark Vorsselmans is the Managing Director of Vorsselmans NV, a leading family-owned company specializing in aluminium windows, doors, and façades. For 50 years, they have been designing complex façade constructions at the highest level. In 1992, Mark joined the company...
Operations Manager - Curtain Walls and Joinery, Seco Group
Eva is an engineer specializing in exterior and interior joinery, façades, and roof cladding. With over two decades of experience at SECO, she has developed expertise in cladding, joinery, glazing, renovation, and many other areas. Eva is well-versed in Belgian...
Head of Service, Marketing and Product Management, Schüco
Nearly 10 years ago Joep joined Schüco International, one of the leading international suppliers of high-quality window, door and façade systems. With a master´s degree in Architecture and nearly 20 years experience in the construction industry Joep is now leading...
Founding Partner, Fassada Steel
Eric Claeys holds a degree as Civil Engineer in Construction from KU Leuven, Belgium, a degree in Industrial Engineering in Public Works from KU Leuven, Belgium, and graduated with a Master in Business Administration from the Vlerick Business School, Belgium....
Co-Founder, Gevelinzicht Ingenieur-Architecten
Stéphanie Mangé (Master in Civil Engineering and Architecture, University in Ghent, 2002) specialized over the years to become a technical designer and expert in facade engineering. In 2016, she founded “Gevelinzicht” in Antwerp together with 2 co-partners. Today she is...
Project Manager, VK Architects+Engineers
Niels manages complex projects, mainly involving studies for building services for buildings of various typology and scale. He shows a great affinity for a sustainable approach in the broadest sense of the word. Always in direct contact with the design...
Managing Director, Vitroplena
Kenny Martens is 33 years old and lives in Zwevezele, Belgium. He has a master’s degree in civil engineering – structural design and received his Ph.D. on structural glass beam systems at Ghent University in 2018. Following his graduation, Kenny...
Design and Operational Lead, Binst Architects
Edwin Remmerie is Design and Operational lead at Binst Architects, and has worked in the office since 2005. Working closely together with founder and CEO Luc Binst, he is responsible for managing the office and supervising the Design Phase of every project....
PhD Researcher, VUB Architectural Engineering
Ruben Van Vooren is a PhD researcher at the department of Architectural Engineering at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research is supervised by prof. Waldo Galle and prof. Niels De Temmerman and is a collaboration with Bureau Bouwtechniek (BB), a Belgian...
Building Detail Expert, Façade Advisor, Bureau Bouwtechniek
Raf became an architect at Sint-Lucas in 1995. In 2012, Raf became a BB’er. During his tenure as BB’er, he emerged as façade consultant and building detail expert and, together with some colleagues, founded Team Knowledge Innovation & Technology, the...
Lead Architect, Jaspers-Eyers Architects
Stefaan van Acker, a multifaceted Project Architect at Jaspers-Eyers, has woven his passion for architecture into a remarkable journey which started with a childhood fascination with the fusion of artistry and functionality. Graduating from Sint-Lukas in Ghent and later pursuing...
Principal | Façade Engineering, VK Architects+Engineers
Maaike Berckmoes graduated as a civil engineer architect from Ghent University in 1994, after which she worked for several years in various architectural firms in Belgium and Italy. After this, she worked for more than 15 years as a Building...
Managing Director, Kyotec
Upon completing his studies as an engineer and in business economics, Bram began his professional career with a general contractor. In 2004, he started his façade experience by joining Belgo Metal, first part of Parmasteelisa later part of Kyotec, as...
Country Director - Germany & Netherlands, SageGlass
Raimond J.F Starmans is since the end of 2019 the Country Director for Germany and The Benelux Countries for Saint-Gobain’s SageGlass, based in the Euregio in The Netherlands. Along with his Sales and Technical Support team he is a big...
Conference Agenda
  • A critical approach to the façade as climate barrier
  • Permeability as central design concept
  • How to bring natural energy back in the building
  • Sustainable and innovative production
  • Dekton versatility: Design and systems possibilities
  • Best practices: Evolution and references of façades in Belgium
  • Occupant comfort and health
  • Highly energy efficient and maximixing building value, as part of Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Case studies
  • Feasibility study on a façade as a key element in circular redevelopment projects
  • Early-phase involvement and integrated representation of diverse domains of expertise: A practical framework
  • Brussels case study example
  • Replacing a sixties curtain wall with a future-proof building skin
  • Translating energy-based parameters into a coherent façade design
  • Using LCA-based material choices to create an inviting human-scale architecture
  • The Sphere: A glass-stabilized dome
  • Heldentoren: Minimal profiles through teamwork of glass and steel
  • Glass innovations: What comes next?
  • Achieving excellence in projects
  • Exploring colors online and offline
  • Drawing inspiration from case studies and resources
  • Hybrid smart solutions: A new era for architects
  • The answer to embodied and operational CO2?
  • Lasting sustainability: Hybrid steel curtain walls with glazing from inside
  • How can we use the quality of existing façades and improve their performance?
  • How can we design new façades to be reused again?
  • Magical projects and the secrets of their detailing
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Event Details
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