Flemish architects Paul Robbrecht and Hilde Daem of Robbrecht en Daem Architecten add a poetic touch to their buildings. Intimate and modest, their projects are defined by natural materials and simplicity of color. Sudden openings with stunning views guide visitors through the spaces they create.

The authors describe their architecture as a means of understanding the world. Their projects range from the largest, such as the concert hall in Bruges, to forest cabins and bird observatories.

Collaborations with artists create a delicate interplay between art and architecture; similarly, their sensitive renovations reflect a sophisticated dialogue with history, as in the recent extension of the Whitechapel Gallery in London.