info@b-bis.be
+32 3 231 82 28
At B-architecten, B-bis & B-city, we use our passion for the design and development of spatial solutions to build a better society with the city as main target.
History
Back in 1997, Evert Crols, Dirk Engelen and Sven Grooten set up an independent office for architecture: B-architecten was born. The three had met during their education in Antwerp and Amsterdam. At the internationally oriented Berlage Institute, it became clear that Evert, Dirk and Sven shared a common design interest. Today, the office is located in Antwerp and Brussels.
Ten years after the foundation of B-architecten, they started a new initiative together with Sebastiaan Leroy: B-bis architecten became an office that focuses on small architectural projects, residential interior design, offices and shops, scenographies for exhibitions and performing arts, temporary installations and furniture design.
In 2020, B-city was launched as a third B-platform with the aim to shape and supervise complex urban projects. The core of its ambition is to work on large-scale projects that carry the potential of becoming new city districts.
Today, B-architecten, B-bis and B-city have naturally grown into an office of more than 70 people. Each B-team has its particular focus and way of functioning, yet they all share a distinct innovative view on the variety of projects the B-platforms stand for.

What we do
At B-architecten, B-bis and B-city, we believe that every single person can make a positive difference in life. We use our passion for the design and development of spatial solutions to build a better society with the city as main target.
We do more than develop buildings: we are a platform of talented designers who want to have an impact on the urban planning policies and improve the quality of life in doing so. Design is our core business – from door handle to city district – but we equally invest in innovative research, we publish and debate, teach at different universities, take our own initiatives and seize opportunities to push the boundaries of our profession.
For us, a better living environment can be achieved by urban densification. It will allow an optimized mix of experience, concentration, sustainability, quality, equality, human scale and technology. To achieve this we trust the power of our platform and the clever alliances we forge with complementary partners.
Every project is an opportunity to question, investigate and try out. We dare to question the question, we add to its value and let the design stem from the solution in a logical, but equally surprising way. All our projects are therefore unique. We deploy the knowledge and experience we have built over the years as a source of inspiration for new colleagues and other talents.
We are dreaming pragmatics, eager about tradition with respect for the future.
How we work
In 2017, our office transformed from a traditional top-down business model to an organisation that is focused on self-managing employees who are heavily involved in the decision making.
Today, we are a close group of workers who carry a shared responsibility for the entire company process – internally and externally. We do not speak in terms of positions or tasks, but instead, there are roles and objectives. Everyone has their own autonomous responsibilities. One employee can fulfill one or several of these roles, for every one of which goals and expectations are determined after consultation with other members of the team.
Important assets of this organisational structure are the division of power, clear agreements and transparent consultation structures. They make the engine of the mechanism. In this self-managing business system we share knowledge and make decisions based on mutual advice in the entire company’s interest.
Yet, we believe well-being is just as important as prosperity. That’s why we have a rich tradition of well-developed team activities, such as a daily healthy lunch for all employees, snacks, pilates lessons on Wednesdays and the monthly B-café, where we invite external speakers to give a lecture. Every year we go on a day trip to B-projects in the implementation phase and in the month September we always go on a two-day trip. The working year is traditionally closed with a BBQ in the courtyard of our B-office.

Who we are
General management
Sven Grooten
architect, founding partner, general director
sven.grooten@b-architecten.be
+32 3 231 82 28
Finances
Tine Delbare
financial director
tine.delbare@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 32
Operations, HR & IT
Klaas Adriaensen
architect, personnel manager & operational director
klaas.adriaensen@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 70
Reflection room
Evert Crols
architect, founding partner
evert.crols@b-architecten.be
+32 3 231 82 28
Revit room
Hans Bogaert
BIM coordinator
hans.bogaert@b-architecten.be
+32 3 270 05 83
Technical platform
Dirk Engelen
architect, founding partner
dirk.engelen@b-architecten.be
+32 3 231 82 28
Care
Gerda Swinnen
office manager
gerda.swinnen@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 32
Communications
Laura Bonne
communications
laura.bonne@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 30
Administration
Arati Van Hoof
administrative assistant
arati.van.hoof@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 32
Facilities
Elke Carlens
facilities
elke.carlens@b-architecten.be
+32 3 231 82 28
B-geester
Hanne De Vos
architect, team leader
hanne.de.vos@b-architecten.be
+32 3 270 05 89
Sustainability
Stéphanie Collier
engineer architect, team leader
stephanie.collier@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 69
Caroline Arts
engineer-architect, project architect
caroline.arts@b-architecten.be
+32 3 302 43 41
Inclusion
Pierre Jadoul
architect, project architect
pierre.jadoul@b-architecten.be
+32 3 304 60 91
Patrimony
Dirk Engelen
architect, founding partner
dirk.engelen@b-architecten.be
+32 3 231 82 28
Team leaders
Sebastiaan Leroy
interior architect, founding partner B-bis, teamleader B-bis
sebastiaan.leroy@b-bis.be
+32 3 270 05 87
Project leaders
Astrid Eyskens
architect, project leader
astrid.eyskens@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 63
Joachim Moens
architect, project leader
joachim.moens@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 65
Katerina Harnack
engineer-architect, project leader
katerina.harnack@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 33
Otsoe Verdonckt
architect, project leader
otsoe.verdonckt@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 40
Pieter-Jan Grillet
architect, project leader
pieter-jan.grillet@b-bis.be
+32 3 270 05 86
Project architects
Eline Cooman
architect, project architect
eline.cooman@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 72
Eloïse Van Meensel
architect, project architect
eloise.van.meensel@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 68
Louise Boone
architect, project architect
louise.boone@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 54
Mathilde Jacobs
architect, project architect
mathilde.jacobs@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 71
Ruben Vanvlasselaer
engineer-architect, project architect
ruben.vanvlasselaer@b-bis.be
+32 3 302 43 75
Designers
Astrid Eyskens - Dirk Engelen - Eline Cooman - Eloïse Van Meensel - Evert Crols - Joachim Moens - Katerina Harnack - Louise Boone - Mathilde Jacobs - Otsoe Verdonckt - Pieter-Jan Grillet - Ruben Vanvlasselaer - Sebastiaan Leroy - Sven Grooten
Awards
2022 - Shortlist Belgian Building Award, category 'herbestemming'
2021 - Belgian Construction Award, category 'circular building' - Roeselare town hall
2021 - RES Award, category 'residential development' - Qville
2021 - Shortlist VRP Planningsprijs, category 'afgerond planningstraject' - Turnova
2021 - Nomination Brick Awards - Erasmus University College
2021 - Nomination Brussels Architecture Prize, category ‘large intervention’ - Centr’Al
2021 - Nomination Brussels Architecture Prize, category ‘small intervention’ - Station of Laken
2021 - Belgian Building Award, category 'circular building' - Mundo-a
2020 - Nomination Brick Awards - Depart
2019 - Gilbert Van Schoonbeke Award - Turnova master plan
2019 - ARC19 Architecture Award - Mundo-a
2019 - Laureate Publica Awards, category heritage & architecture - Station of Laken
2019 - Laureate Jo Crepain Award, most innovative architecture office
2018 - FEBE Elements Awards, category Precast in Buildings - Turnova tower
2018 - Laureate Staalbouwwedstrijd, category utiliteitsbouw - Het Moment
2018 - Honourable mention Bis architecture competition, theme 'herbestemming' - Het Moment
2018 - Laureate Onroerenderfgoedprijs - Het Moment
2017 - Publica Awards, bronze in the category ‘city planning’ - Turnova master plan
2017 - Onroerenderfgoedprijs - Boterberg
2016 - Laureate Brussels voorbeeldgebouw (Be-Exemplary) - Centr'Al
2014 - Nomination Staalbouwwedstrijd - De Grote Post
2013 - Laureate Vlaamse Monumentenprijs - De Grote Post
2011 - Nomination Prix de la Maîtrise d'Ouvrage Publique, category 'promotion de l’approche intégrée' - L28
2007 - Laureate Brussels voorbeeldgebouw (Be-Exemplary) - L28
2003 - Award van de Belgische architectuur - Anyplace
2003 - Award van de Belgische architectuur - BSBbis
1999 - Antoon van Dyck Award, most promising architecture office
Our offices
How to get there
Office Antwerp
Borgerhoutsestraat 22/01
2018 Antwerp
By public transport
B-architecten, B-bis and B-city are located within walking distance of the Antwerp Central Station. There are several tram and bus stops close to our offices.
If you’re using a Velo city bike, look at the map for the nearest Velo stations. You can put your own bike safely in the bicycle sheds on our office terrain.
By car
Parking your car in the streets may prove difficult and expensive. When you do, don’t forget to buy a ticket!
We advise you to use the underground car park of the Antwerp Central Station by entering ‘Van Immerseelstraat 2’ in your navigation system. It only takes a five minute walk from the car park to our offices.
Office Brussels
Bloemenhofplein 5
1000 Brussels
By public transport
B-architecten, B-bis and B-city are located within walking distance of the Brussels Central Station. There are several tram and bus stops close to our office. From Brussels-North station, take tram 3 (Churchill) or 4 (Stalle) to the ‘Beurs’ stop; from Brussels-South station, take tram 3 (Esplanade) or 4 (Noordstation) in the other direction.
If you’re using a Villo! city bike, look at the map for the nearest Villo! stations.
By car
Parking your car in the streets may prove difficult and expensive. When you do, don’t forget to buy a ticket!
We advise you to use the car park Q-Park Lepage by entering ‘Léon Lepagestraat 23’ in your navigation system, or Q-Park Dansaert by entering ‘Nieuwe Graanmarkt 2’ in your navigation system. It only takes a five minute walk from these car parks to our office.