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An integrated global vision of the life of a building:
this is the embodiment of sustainable construction,
this is the spirit in which Philippe Samyn carries
out his projects and this is a direction in which he
would like to involve the construction sector.
Philippe Samyn has progressively created a personal
style and an individual way of conceiving and executing
projects from the premise, inspired by earthquake-
resistant insights, that a symmetrical structure is
more economical than a dissymmetrical structure, and
that there is a need to use materials sparingly and to
construct in the lightest way possible. This approach
uses all the resources that technical progress makes
available, as well as, on a case-by-case basis, the
cultural specificities of the places where his works will
be accommodated. Philippe Samyn constantly explores
new directions and puts into practice elements of real
inventions with each new project. What characterises
his originality and his greatness is the audacity and
effectiveness with which he expresses the art of engi-
neering in his architectural work.
Conclusion
1
Seco: Bureau de Contrôle Technique pour la Construction
(Technical Control Bureau for Construction).
2
The Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Ecole Nationale
des Ponts et Chaussées in Paris.
3
cen
: Comité européen de normalisation – European Committee
for Standardization.
4
The collaboration between Philippe Samyn and Seco has been mutually
beneficial. Over the course of numerous renovation projects, Georges
te Koslté, Maurice Narbot and other experienced engineers showed him
various practical elements of the art of the engineer, such as how to use
notches to reinforce historic walls (Huis De Greef-Van Wambeke) and
helped during the rehabilitation of the Saint Augustine Convent in the
rue Saint Ghislain in Brussels. Reciprocally, Philippe Samyn succeeded in
Figure 59: Project for a car park for
GlaxoSmithKline, Wavre (01-530)
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