Ward Verbakel, doctoral research

// The villages as part of the urbanized landscape and dispersed phantom metropole of Flanders are undergoing rapid transformations. In a context where regulation and spatial policy is loose and often focused on damage control, a second wave of densification is ongoing. Since the beginning of the millennium building permits for multifamily housing in small towns and villages make up the majority of the work housing production in such communes. This has strong repercussions on the transformation of space and the perceived notions of public and social life within the spatial framework. 
In order  to address the challenges of densification, landscape repair and town redevelopment in the dispersed Flemish territory, a subfield of urban design practice emerged that applies its own methods of design research, stakeholder negotiation and project guidelines. The practice of urban design and architectural policy is the main focus of this PhD research. 

This design research PhD focuses on the urbanism for small towns and villages. Plusoffice architects founding partner Ward Verbakel is revisiting over 15 years of design strategies, participatory processes and policy projects for villages throughout Flanders, in search of specific design practice for rural urbanism. 

Supervisor: Bruno De Meulder, Co-supervisors: Michiel Dehaene, Frits Palmboom, Martino Tattara
°1999, ongoing