Interdisciplinary thinking and research on Architecture, Urban space and Society within challenging diversities

In 1966, Jan Tanghe, Jacques Pêtre, Ignaas Deboutte and Willy Canfyn took up the challenge to create an interdisciplinary group, called ‘Groep Planning’. A team of architects, urban planners and engineers worked together on numerous complex projects transcending the classic structure of a design agency and aiming to develop a global vision about (urban) space. The multidisciplinary character of the team was highlighted in 1995 with the integration of ‘Mens en Ruimte’, a team of experts in the field of energy, environment, mobility, agriculture and horticulture, sociology, economy, geography and planning.

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50 years later, in 2016 the three partners, prof. Paul Lievevrouw, Jean-Pierre Mariën and Jan Jonas-Szatanski, affirmed, once again, the sum between SumProject and SumResearch standing for the continuous intertwining of scientific research and research by design. The cross-functional team ensures the sustainable scale of the projects, an overall quality management, sound budgeting in an economic reality, an efficient project management and a clear communication strategy.

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Today Sum stands for a reasoned and convinced renewal and in-depth approach. No conjugation but the most intense and creative pursuit of the better solution, the added value, the clear design, the right living environment, the sustainable answer, research by design, the right questioning, the specific policy answer, the innovative and forward-looking programming.

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SumProject and SumResearch together form Sum. Sum is a dynamic and interdisciplinary design and research group. We work future-oriented and inventive, making ourselves strong - always interdisciplinary and cross-pollinating - to choose, dig and discover new and exciting paths, at the service of a prosperous, complex and good society.

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SumProject stands for sustainable architecture, engineering and urban design. Based on contextual studies, SumProject’s designs contribute to a pleasant living and working environment.

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SumResearch specialises in preparatory work for policy and support research, master planning, and understanding societal challenges and change processes. We operate at various policy levels with assignments for international institutions, federal and regional governments as well as municipal governments.

Our interdisciplinary strenght allows us to put together the appropriate team for each assignment based on area knowledge and expertise and according to the specificity of the assignment. Within this spontaneous but equally orderly interweaving, Sum wishes to continue to clearly define and mark the various assignments and foundations both internally and externally - it is also its richness and pertinent added value - and therefore understands that this specific expertise and (inter-) disciplinarity must also offer a clear and correct stance to the outside world and clients.

The interaction that arises between Project and Research enables us to deliver results that are greater than the Sum of their parts. Whether in the field of feasibility research, design research, complex transformations or dealing with protected monuments, we can offer necessary assets to the client within the framework of extensive study assignments.

SumProject + SumResearch is active within the following fields:

• Architecture: new buildings and renovation

• Infrastructure and Urban Design: designing public space

• Heritage: restoration and policy-oriented studies

• Historical building research

• Feasibility studies and master planning

• Spatial planning and urban development

• Sustainable development

• Landscape studies

• Geographical information systems

• Culture, tourism and recreation: scenography and policy-oriented studies

• Social Planning, especially housing policy, housing and care for the elderly

• Thematic programming around social challenges and change processes

SumProject+SumResearch is active in Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia and northern France. The team is co-ordinated by architect Paul Lievevrouw. For more information about the office and our projects, please contact the office by phone +32 2 512 70 11 or e-mail info@sum.be​