Stramien works on architecture and spatial projects that initiate contact between people and stimulate the balanced sharing and use of space. We are happy to use our expertise for the community in which we work. Our internal and external collaboration model represents this ambition.

We are a self-managing and cooperative organization that is fully committed to integrated urban planning - the combination of landscape, architecture and public space. There is no dividing line between these disciplines. That is why we bring together a group of motivated and convinced co-operators: architects, urban planners, spatial planners and landscape designers. Every employee has a share in our success story based on their expertise and growth. If we do not have essential knowledge in-house, we work together with external partners.

Public space is a scarce and complex commodity. Stramien wants to give priority to a society in which sharing space and shared use creates more value than to fill up more up space. Where necessary, we look for alternatives and test the impact of our projects in advance, based on strict criteria and future-oriented ideas. We pay attention to the wider environment, the neighborhood and the capacity of the place: no warm school without a clear vision of its pedagogical project, no new neighborhood without healthy mobility and space for harmonious coexistence, no world port without waterbus transport...

The result is a kaleidoscope of projects that are spatially and socially relevant and satisfy our clients and end users.

We believe in sustainable solutions for a resilient society. The spatial reality and mentality in Flanders demands a bold turnaround from designers, policymakers and users.

As designers, we are often at the beginning of the process which challenges us to deal creatively with the issues of tomorrow… We look for flexible solutions to reverse the fragmentation of public space and to protect biodiversity. Because… where have our bees, butterflies and swallows gone? We see our projects in the perspective of an integral circular economy. An old industrial laundry becomes green urban nature, gray city roofs become lively gardens, we de-harden playgrounds into play 'gardens'... What is gentle on nature is good for humans.

We value and cherish heritage. That is why Stramien explores possibilities for repurposing with respect for the original concept.

Many buildings and places bear traces of our collective history. What previous generations have left us is part of a cultural continuity suitable for new uses. A warehouse becomes an open office, an old farm accommodates co-housers, an old tree becomes the protagonist in a green neighborhood, an abandoned outdoor swimming pool is transformed into a lively water park…

Our role as designers goes beyond making plans. In a complex world, we believe in system-thinking, like-minded collaboration and a process-oriented approach. A design is always part of a larger picture.

We use all of our professional knowledge and expertise to look for logical, feasible and attractive designs. Stramien assists customers in their search for the most suitable solution. A solution embedded in strong communication and participation with all stakeholders. We have an eye for innovation and support creative initiatives.

We like to work in a “construction team” because we believe in clear communication and budget control while striving for added value. Our projects connect people and environment, client and citizen, pioneers and the market, past and future.

Good urban planning is about balanced space and its harmonious use. It should generously accommodate the permanent or temporary customs, traditions, routes… that determine the daily interaction between people and the vibrancy of a landscape, village or city.

Through empathic observation and rational analysis, good urban planning serves the people who live, work and recreate. Working from home to street, from village to city and from region to region, we seek the best configuration for our urban compositions.

A landscape emphasizes the local identity of a place and guarantees spatial variation. In Flanders, little attention is still paid to the original and natural landscape. Stramien considers the landscape as a vulnerable canvas and treats it with respect in all projects.

Our team approaches the landscape with a simple farmer's logic and considers it as a coherent system in which human actions, vegetation, the animals that live there and the climate should thrive in balance. We are faced with an important task to make our landscape more green and resilient, to de-harden it and to use water sparingly.

Today we may be building tomorrow's heritage. Architecture has the ability to be more than a style. Architecture shapes our zeitgeist, our culture, our needs and our vision. And it is always at the service of its environment and of people.

Our projects have their own signature without always falling into the same architectural style. They tell their own story, but also listen to their surroundings. They are flexible, well thought-out, robust and durable. But at the same time also charming, surprising and precious. Their apparent simplicity is always the result of a critical search for integration: with the environment, with nature, with users and with the future.

A lot of public space in Flanders has been privatized. The collective domain in between varies a lot in form and use. A well-functioning public space strongly guides urban development and processes and is a refuge for 'the other opinion'.

In our vision, the shared space is an inviting space in which everyone is welcome, it is a sanctuary for physical encounters in a highly digitized world. Stramien likes to work with the unique characteristics of a place; a lonely harbor crane on the quay becomes a majestic sculpture, a well-designed shopping street brings customers and traders together, an attractive 'nightscape' provides an extra experience...