NERO

NERO is an architectural office in Ghent that was founded in 1988 by three architects: William Lievens (°1948), Rudi De Backer (°1958) and (since 1993) Marianne Hofstede (°1958-2013). Since the establishment of the office in 1988, this trio realized in a wide area around Ghent a series of remarkable buildings. No spectacular architecture but by use of a sophisticated functionality and controlled use of contemporary materials, light and space which exudes a sleek poetry.

The work of Nero combines fire and water and is therefore dominated by the concrete utopia. While the concrete of this utopia, taking into account the laws of budget, timing and construction logic allows the utopia or the belief in a feasible dream world for a fresh enrichment of the architectural language. Nero, the mad Roman emperor. Nero roguish comic character …

Architecture is for the architects of the Nero product no theory. But searching for the Aha experience, the architecture of the domain is continually explored: from bench to city, from concrete to polyester, from frame to structure, to dream really. “