Projects

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH HEINDONK

YEAR 2016

The back of the architectural installation widens towards the square and, as it were, opens up to the world, offering a platform. This architectural installation gives Heindonk a contemporary vision and a dynamic future. A meaningful beacon in the landscape. With the installation of the artwork, the square was also completely redesigned by design agency Stramien.

Based on an open call to its population, the municipality of Willebroek looked for places that could be enriched with art/installation. One project was assigned for the square in Heindonk, a sub-municipality of Willebroek. It is a social project in which the population is closely involved and must give their approval for all important proposals and steps. When you drive into the center of Heindonk, the old church and chapel stand out in the street scene. Together with the personage, they determine the face of this village center. Their virtual intersection falls on the square, but here they are not received, a plain remains.

With this design I want to create a symbiosis between these sacred buildings and my installation in such a way that they reinforce each other. In this way, my installation is incorporated into the square and becomes part of the existing architecture. What it boils down to is that I designed a transparent building that, with its modest facade (a chapel shape), focuses on the sacred buildings. This answers these questions and creates an interesting tension between abstracted design and historical architecture, old and new materials, ...

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH PHARA DE AGUIRE

FOR OBJET PORTRAIT

YEAR 2017

From the way in which OBJET PORTRAIT was created, we can deduce that for Roel every creation is primarily an encounter. It is a dialogue with the other, which can be a person, a community, an environment, an object and so on. Actually, this involves the two most basic human questions. What is the world? Who am I? As human beings it is the task of all of us to find a relationship between these questions. That makes us who we are. We recognize both in Roel's meeting activity as a designer: his open attitude towards the world and his own freedom to interpret it. Nine people are listened to candidly about their way of being in the world. Although they are people 'of the world', with an explicit public image, they are withdrawn from this mundane image. They reflect on their own roots. How do they understand themselves in their way of being?

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Armed with this human wealth, Roel then makes his own interpretation of it. He develops two objects for each of these nine people, one applied and one free. One functional, the other symbolic: the two domains, in other words, between which he constantly moves. Each of these objects is, as it were, the 'face' of the people involved in which something of their soul is expressed. But the soul of the designer also takes part in the debate. As the design process proves: it is a long, uncertain, groping road that leads from listening to speaking. Finding this connection is what it comes down to. It is a meeting between two freedoms. Why should such dialogue not be possible? Or is this a utopian idea? That is ultimately the question he confronts us with Objet Portrait.

KANTELAAR

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Kantelaar is part of the Objet Portrait project in which Roel Vandebeek captures the identity of 9 well-known Flemish inspirations in unique objects, installations and utensils. It’s simultaneously a static and dynamic image. If you light both candles, something will eventually move which is unpredictable and very calm. This is the translation of the unexpected, hesitating, seeking and balancing nature of Phara.

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TOO CONNECT

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Information, images, sound, etc. come from different directions. Phara is able to make the links and the right connections. From a professional as well as a private point of view.

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Portrait photography by Lieve Blancquaert

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLABORATION WITH NELISSEN

YEAR 2017

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GERMAN DESIGN AWARD | ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN COLLECTION AWARD

BLT AWARD | BELGIAN BUILDING AWARD | HENRY VAN DE VELDE AWARD

The chapter of the brick is not even close to finishing, was the thought of Designer Roel Vandebeek of design agency ‘It’s a Roel’ from Maasmechelen. He took his concept of the shadow joints and introduced it to Nelissen Brickworks in Lanaken. The manufacturer immediately saw the potential of the idea, patented it and proposed to use its N70 brick as a base. Designer Roel Vandebeek added the shadow joints to the N70 brick which creates the illusion that a wall is built out of remarkably thin bricks. In the meantime, the innovative brick has won several awards: in addition to the Henry Van de Velde Efficiency Award, Dubio was also chosen as the winner of the Product Innovation Award at the Belgian Building Awards. In addition, Dubio won in 2019 a German Design Award.

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As a product designer Roel is in touch with architects on a regular basis meaning he has a good grasp not only of the trends, but also the necessities within the construction world. “Architects are very fond of glued brick facades plus the demand for an original linear pattern keeps increasing” according to Vandebeek. To fill in this need, the designer in cooperation with Nelissen offers a sustainable solution, the Dubio-brick. “The brick has the ability to make you doubt because of its shadow joints, these joints create the illusion that the façade is built up out of thin bricks. An innovative breakthrough.

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH WERKHUIZEN HENGELHOEF

FOR ZIEKENHUIS MAAS KEMPEN

YEAR 2017

“Together” is the first word you come across and also the title of this project. Because I cannot possibly decide which words best represent this hospital, I decided to put together a team consisting of employees from different departments of the hospital, from cleaning service to doctor. With this team, which consists of five people, I held several workshops and went through the entire process together. Due to their involvement and the “homework” they were given to solve with their department, in the search for the right words, most departments were already involved in advance, which entailed a social interaction. The work of art began to live before it was even executed.

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As a designer, I always start from the identity of the client, institution, municipality, company,… This is also the case with this project about art integration. I try to get into the home of ZMK in terms of the building, the environment, the employees and visitors. What I find particularly important are the different “touch points” that you encounter when you enter the site. But you have to deal with this not only outside, but also in the building.

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My idea was to construct very large words that are spread like beacons in the landscape and that, in a small format, could also be found in the hospital. The big words communicate with everyone who enters the domain. They welcome you, make you think, support you. They represent ZMK’s philosophy with its employees and visitors across the site. They are the beacons in the public domain that becomes more human in this way. They meet you and make you forget for a moment that you are in a hospital setting. It’s as if they have always been there.

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH Giovanna Massoni and Alexandre Humbert

FOR BELGIUM IS DESIGN

YEAR 2021

Born from the meeting between Giovanna Massoni, curator, and Alexandre Humbert, designer and film director, this movie tells the story of Belgian design at a historical moment that determines an important turning point in its role. Shot between February and April 2021 across Belgium, the film accompanies us through the attitudes, words and gestures of nine protagonists of circular design, reuse, regeneration of resources, new models of organization and production.

One story, nine practices: the stories blend together to create a unity of space and time, building a single voice common to all. The object (the design), assumed here as a starting point, has a variable, vulnerable identity and becomes a pretext for determining the locations in which the narrative is integrated. An agile artifact generated by individual and collective experience, it passes from one hand to another, it adapts, it is shared, it regenerates. The work is (again) open - as Umberto Eco wished (Opera aperta, 1962)

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Official screenings at
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Milan Design Week, September 6-7, 2021
Milan Design Film Festival, October 23, 2021
Architecture and Design Film Festival (ADFF) USA and Canada: Vancouver, November 11-12, 2021
Madrid - Casa Valonia, November 25, 2021
‍Millenium Festival - Brussels, May 5-12, 2022
Paris - Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles, May 12, 2022
Brussels - European Bauhaus Festival / Building a Bright Future Conference, June 10, 2022
Brussels - Design September, September 21, 2022
Naples - EDIT Napoli, October 8, 2022
Marseille - Montévideo, Mai 17, 2023 - in collaboration with massilia.design

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH WOUD

FOR HIDN COLLECTION

YEAR 2022

There are a lot of latent possibilities hidden in fundamental, basic shapes, waiting to be revealed. Based on the archetypal silhouette of a vase, the inspiration for Flowr emanated. With an aim to add an ingenious, purposeful function while enhancing the visual aesthetics, the idea of integrating a flower divider arose. Not as a separate element but by simply taking the material from the vase and form itself. As a natural integrated step in the pro- duction process, the ceramist can effortlessly cut off one or two rings from the top of the finished traditional vase to reposition them at an oblique angle. A design feature that allows you to arrange individual stalks or fascicles of flowers in a vivid yet defined way. This added value is what the HIDN design language is all about.

The HIDN design language
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   • Searching for hidden possibilities in material or processing to reveal a hidden part, function, shape, inspiration or design feature

   • A way to think outside the box, be innovative and unfold your creativity

   • Treasure hunting for the hidden gems and surprises

   • Design with a precycling approach; optimising material and process in an early stage

   • Getting more out of a product than initially thought

   • Adding obvious functionality, value or aesthetics to a design without adding obvious material

   • A responsible and considered take on minimalism

   • A naturally integrated step in your table of content when designing

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH MAGNITUDE

FOR MAGNITUDE

YEAR 2022

MUSE DESIGN AWARD

Great ideas often form in good places. For designer and artist Roel Vandebeek (°1970) it was the studios of Magnitude. When he walked around and saw the care with which the beds are made, he was inspired and the idea for Starry Night was born. This wonderful bed fits into Magnitude's tradition of inviting designers for a special design edition. After Jean-François d'Or and Alain Gilles, among others, the honor now fell to compatriot Roel Vandebeek. With his design, Roel evokes the image of a cast-iron bed from days gone by. His contemporary interpretation was given a sleek, pared-down look and a luxurious execution with subtle details. With the name Starry Night, Roel transports you to a French attic room, ready for a fairytale night of stargazing. On the webpage you can enjoy a film in which Roel Vandebeek explains more about the breeding ground of his designs.

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Starry Night is available in two types of fabric both of which add an extra dimension to the design. The Lainosa Fabric has the sophisticated look of a wool felt fabric made from 100% polyester. Lainosa was selected in a total of six shades, from neutral beige, warm brown, stylish anthracite, inspiring midnight blue to a bright orange. The Eternal Velvet Fabric creates extra depth thanks to the velour with mohair look. This fabric also comes in six shades: neutral ecru, chic anthracite, bronzy gold, absinthe green, warm orange and dreamy azure. With the darker colours, the play between presence and absence is more exciting. The lighter colours, on the other hand, more quickly evoke the secure feeling of nostalgic memory.

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Roel Vandebeek found the inspiration for Starry Night during a visit to the Magnitude studios. “What struck me most was how great their passion and expertise is in the field of upholstery and stitching. In my design I wanted to translate this craft into an archetypal image of the past: the antique French cast-iron bed. This image is in the collective memory, which immediately evokes a sense of recognition and memory. And if you can actualize such an archetype and let it be reborn with contemporary techniques, you have the best of both worlds: the sense of security of the past intertwined with the luxury and comfort of today.’

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By ‘projecting’ the image of the French bed onto a tightly upholstered foot and headboard, ‘then’ and ‘now’ are brought together. With the right choice of fabric and filling, elegant lines are created thanks to the shadow play with the stitching seam. The signature of the Magnitude craft becomes, as it were, a means of communication between bed and person.

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH ATELIER VIERKANT & De Castelli

YEAR 2022

Starting from the archetype of the table, this design was materialized by working with clay tablets. Each tablet has its unique story to tell. The purity of the clay contrasts nicely with the slim, brass legs, which, due to the color and surface treatment, are added like a jewel. Both materials respect and reinforce each other, it is from this symbiosis that the strength of this design arises.The smart base makes it possible to use and combine different sizes of clay tablets, an extra freedom at the service of the user. In collaboration with De Castelli (brass legs).

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH WOUD

FOR HIDN COLLECTION

YEAR 2022

Have a look at Tabl. Can you spot the hidden part? A circular part of the classic cylindrical base has been cut out and transformed into a functional tabletop. Consequently leaving a round, open space in the foundation. Creating a strong visual silhouette. With this playful and tangible approach, we efficiently optimize the material by providing the design with a new function without adding additional material. We deliberately optimize the production process as the laser cutter can create the base and top simultaneously. And we responsibly reduce waste in an earlier stage as the shapes from the opening and the top recur.

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The HIDN design language
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   • Searching for hidden possibilities in material or processing to reveal a hidden part, function, shape, inspiration or design feature

   • A way to think outside the box, be innovative and unfold your creativity

   • Treasure hunting for the hidden gems and surprises

   • Design with a precycling approach; optimising material and process in an early stage

   • Getting more out of a product than initially thought

   • Adding obvious functionality, value or aesthetics to a design without adding obvious material

   • A responsible and considered take on minimalism

   • A naturally integrated step in your table of content when designing

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH WOUD

FOR HIDN COLLECTION

YEAR 2022

Made of smooth, solid marble, Booknd communicates an immediate and naturally beautiful aesthetic. With its graphic forms, the bookends emphatically combine soft, cylindrical shapes with consistent, straight lines, resulting in two decorative objects that have a visible mutual relationship. Although the Booknds are separated by books, they will always be visually connected, which strongly enhances the unity of the objects. A set of Booknd consists of one small and one large bookend.

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The HIDN design language
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   • Searching for hidden possibilities in material or processing to reveal a hidden part, function, shape, inspiration or design feature

   • A way to think outside the box, be innovative and unfold your creativity

   • Treasure hunting for the hidden gems and surprises

   • Design with a precycling approach; optimising material and process in an early stage

   • Getting more out of a product than initially thought

   • Adding obvious functionality, value or aesthetics to a design without adding obvious material

   • A responsible and considered take on minimalism

   • A naturally integrated step in your table of content when designing

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• Material: Solid marble
• Set: 2 pcs (1 x small + 1 x large)
• Country of origin: China

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• Length: 6,4/10 cm
• Depth: 12/13,2 cm
• Height: 12/18,5 cm

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DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

IN COLLAB WITH WOUD

FOR HIDN COLLECTION

YEAR 2022

As the name refers to, Booklght unites a bookshelf and a lamp in an honest and transparent way. Subtly merging two common functions. Booklght illustrates a different take on the HIDN design language. By implementing the HIDN approach as a natural part of the design process, the opportunity for integrating a lamp into a shelf was revealed to the designer. He found a hidden idea to add a new function. The result is a playful and distinctive design that leaves you with a moment of wonder.

Made from the same piece of metal, the additional material, that has been added to form the lampshade, is added at the right moment of the production phase to optimize the process. Also, with this combination of two products in one, there is only one production, one packaging and one transportation

The HIDN design language
‍

   • Searching for hidden possibilities in material or processing to reveal a hidden part, function, shape, inspiration or design feature

   • A way to think outside the box, be innovative and unfold your creativity

   • Treasure hunting for the hidden gems and surprises

   • Design with a precycling approach; optimising material and process in an early stage

   • Getting more out of a product than initially thought

   • Adding obvious functionality, value or aesthetics to a design without adding obvious material

   • A responsible and considered take on minimalism

   • A naturally integrated step in your table of content when designing

DESIGN ROEL VANDEBEEK

FOR OUTDOOR WOOD CONCEPTS

german design award - blt award - adca award

YEAR 2023

Woodface Acoustic is a unique acoustic wall covering in which fins in pet felt are attached in oak board grooves. Application of this 3-dimensional system results in unparalleled look, feel and silence. This architectural and interactive interior cladding allows tuning the acoustic absorption and maximizing the experience.

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• Vertical, acoustic wall covering.
• Combination of oak boards with fins in pet felt
• 3-dimensional system
• Extensive selection and combination possibilities
• Tuning of acoustic absorption
• Circular system