Robbrecht en Daem exhibition, London

When making your name as an architect, it's tempting to build loud statements that scream to be noticed. But for Flemmish duo, Paul Robbrecht and Hilde Daem, it's the humble poetry of their work that is winning them plaudits - celebrated in their first UK show at London's Whitechapel Gallery.
As the architects behind the gallery's much-lauded extension, it is fitting that Robbrecht en Daem should find themselves in the spotlight here once more. On show at 'Robbrecht and Daem: pacing through architecture' is a selection of sketches, watercolours, plans and photographs of their projects, which range from high profile buildings like Bruges Concert Hall and the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum extension in Rotterdam, to a woodland cabin and a bird observation tower.
A series of short films by Maarten Vanden Abeele also gives extraordinary insight into the world of the architects and the inspirations behind their projects.
The pair have always had a strong relationship with the arts, collaborating with artists on many of their projects. A special section of the gallery is dedicated to these pairings, with work on display by the likes of Gerhard Richter and Isa Genzken. But the architects are careful never to let their buildings overpower the collections they house. 'Simplicity without minimalism is what we aim for,' Daem once said. This show is a testament to the power of that mantra.
Concert Hall, Bruges 2003.
Concert Hall, Bruges, 2003.
The façade of the Whitechapel Gallery, revamped and extended by Robbrecht and Daem in 2009.
The foyer of the Whitechapel Gallery, revamped and extended by Robbrecht and Daem in 2009.
The main staircase of the Whitechapel Gallery, revamped and extended by Robbrecht and Daem in 2009.
Ldwp + Deep Fontain, Antwerp, 1997 - 2006.
Ldwp + Deep Fontain, Antwerp, 1997 - 2006.
Katoen Natie Headquarters, Antwerp, 1992.
Aue Pavilions, Kassel, 1992.
Aue Pavilions, Kassel 1992.
ADDRESS
77-82 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7QX
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Malaika Byng is an editor, writer and consultant covering everything from architecture, design and ecology to art and craft. She was online editor for Wallpaper* magazine for three years and more recently editor of Crafts magazine, until she decided to go freelance in 2022. Based in London, she now writes for the Financial Times, Metropolis, Kinfolk and The Plant, among others.
-
MoMA names Christophe Cherix its new director
The Swiss-born curator has worked in the Museum of Modern Art’s drawings and prints department since 2007
By Anna Fixsen Published
-
The Yale Center for British Art, Louis Kahn’s final project, glows anew after a two-year closure
After years of restoration, a modernist jewel and a treasure trove of British artwork can be seen in a whole new light
By Anna Fixsen Published
-
How Le Corbusier defined modernism
Le Corbusier was not only one of 20th-century architecture's leading figures but also a defining father of modernism, as well as a polarising figure; here, we explore the life and work of an architect who was influential far beyond his field and time
By Ellie Stathaki Published