Christian Kieckens

Veronique Boone/Lars Kwakkenbos: In 1999 you wrote in Buildingness: 'architects should start by making buildings rather than architecture'. Do you still stand by that statement?

Christian Kieckens: It does indeed sound like a cliché, but what I mean is, every architect should know what good building is. Only then is it possible to achieve intelligent building, and that is architecture. Not everyone can manage intelligent building, and nor should they, but everyone should start out knowing what good building is. The statement resulted from reflecting about architecture education. Students want to make architecture in their first and second year; it's like cooking without knowing what the ingredients are. When I see the horrendous results I think to myself: first learn what brick and concrete are. So in that context I would still say that today.

VB/LK: Is that sort of attitude purely a matter of education?

CK: No, it's also to do with a country's tradition. Clients in Flanders want either the lowest common denominator or what’s in the architecture magazines and books, but there doesn't seem to be any in-between any more. Something that looks like an ordinary building, but stands out because of its fine detailing is a dying breed. Here in Belgium the most original form usually wins the biggest prize. But perhaps I myself could be accused of making architecture to get into the books. It doesn't really interest me, but if they ask me to be in the books, I'm not about to refuse.