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  COME VEDERE L'ARCHITETTURA CONTEMPORANEA HOW TO SEE CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE
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Francine Houben
Francine Houben
[Francine M.J. Houben]
* Sittard, Netherlands [Nederland], 2 July 1955
nationality: dutch
Mecanoo
www.mecanoo.nl
info@mecanoo.nl
Mecanoo architecten
Oude Delft 203
2611 HD  Delft - Netherlands [Nederland]
Tel: +31.(0)15.2798.100 - Fax: +31.(0)15.2798.111
Mecanoo Asia office
No.1, Sanduo 1st Road
Lingya District
802  Kaohsiung City - Taiwan [Chungua MinKuo]
Tel: +886.(0)7.719.1358
Mecanoo UK office
Cornwall Buildings
49 Newhall Street
B3 3QR  Birmingham - United Kingdom
Mecanoo UK office
CUBE Gallery, 4th Floor
113-115 Portland Street
M1 6DW  Manchester - United Kingdom
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
 
 
Francine Houben, Mecanoo architectenFrancine Houben (1955) began formulating the three fundamentals of her lifelong architectural vision while studying at the Technical University of Delft. She graduated cum laude in 1984 and officially founded Mecanoo architecten. Francine has remained true to her architectural vision, Composition, Contrast, Complexity throughout her career. Always looking for inspiration and the secret of a specific location, Francine bases her work on both analyses and intuition. She enjoys interweaving social, technical, playful and humane aspects together in order to form a unique solution to each situation. Francine Houben combines the disciplines of architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture in a untraditional way; with sensitivity for light and beauty. Her use of material is expressive.


She is known as one of the most prolific architects in Europe today. Her wide-ranging portfolio comprises an intimate chapel built on the foundations of a former 19th century chapel in Rotterdam (2001) to Europe’s largest library in Birmingham (2013). Francine Houben’s work reveals a sensory aspect determined by form and space, a lavish use or subtle combinations of the most diverse materials, as well as planes of saturated colour. 
Francine was granted lifelong membership to the Akademie der Künste, Berlin in 2010.

In 2008, she received the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award. Fellowships to the American Institute of Architects, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, and the Royal Institute of British Architects were granted to her in previous years.

The past three decades have seen her cumulative effect on the profession of architecture. Francine lectures all over the world and takes part as a jury member in prestigious competitions. Her commitment to research and education is evidenced in her instatement as professor in Architecture, Chair of Aesthetics of Mobility at the Delft University of Technology (2000), her professorship at the Universitá della Svizzera Italiania, Accademia di architettura, Switzerland (2000) and her appointment as visiting professor at Harvard (2007).
AWARDS
 
2021
ABB LEAF
Lifetime Achievement Award
2015
Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Prize [ > read more ]
"Francine Houben’s buildings are rare examples of a people-centric architecture which is consistent with the local culture. As creative director of Mecanoo, she is considered one of the most influential architects of the moment. She brings together urbanism, landscape, architecture, restoration and interior design in a coherent way."
2014
Woman Architect of the Year
The Architects' Journal
2010
Akademie der Künste, Berlin
Lifelong membership
2008
Veuve Clicquot Business Woman of the Year Award
VIDEO
 
 
BUILDINGS
 
2013 - 2020
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Renovation
United States » Washington D.C.
2012 - 2017
Municipal Offices and Train Station
Netherlands [Nederland] » Delft
2006 - 2017
Cidade da Justiça de Córdoba
Spain [España] » Córdoba
2006 - 2016
Wei-Wu-Ying Center for the Arts
Taiwan [Chungua MinKuo] » Kaohsiung
2012 - 2016
Kongsberg kunnskaps- og kulturpark
Norway [Norge] » Kongsberg
2009 - 2015
Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
Netherlands [Nederland] » Haarlemmermeer
2011 - 2015
Eurojust
Netherlands [Nederland] » The Hague [Den Haag/'s Gravenhage]
2011 - 2015
Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building
United States » Boston
2011 - 2014
Manchester arts and cultural centre
United Kingdom » Manchester
2010 - 2014
Noorderpoort college
Netherlands [Nederland] » Stadskanaal
2008 - 2013
Library of Birmingham
United Kingdom » Birmingham
2010 - 2013
Calvijn Groene Hart comprehensive school
Netherlands [Nederland] » Barendrecht
2010 - 2013
EWICON (Electrostatic Windemergy CONvertor)
Netherlands [Nederland] » Delft
2008 - 2012
Amsterdam University College
Netherlands [Nederland] » Amsterdam
2009 - 2012
Fontys Sporthogeschool
Netherlands [Nederland] » Eindhoven
2012
International Golf Clubhouse Schiphol
Netherlands [Nederland] » Haarlemmermeer
2010 - 2012
Onze Droomschool
Netherlands [Nederland] » Dordrecht
2007 - 2011
Kaap Skil - Museum van Jutters & Zeelui
Netherlands [Nederland] » Texel
2002 - 2006
Netherlands [Nederland] » Amsterdam
2004 - 2006
Philips Business Innovation Centre FiftyTwoDegrees
Netherlands [Nederland] » Nijmegen
1999 - 2005
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1998 - 2002
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1998 - 2001
Kapel Heilige Maria der Engelen
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
2000 - 2001
Netherlands [Nederland] » Delft
1995 - 2001
Netherlands [Nederland] » Goes
1995 - 2000
Openluchtmuseum
Netherlands [Nederland] » Arnhem
1989 - 1999
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1993 - 1998
Bibliotheek Technische Universiteit Delft
Netherlands [Nederland] » Delft
1985 - 1997
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1991 - 1996
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1991 - 1995
Netherlands [Nederland] » Utrecht
1991 - 1995
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
1991 - 1994
Netherlands [Nederland] » Amsterdam
1990 - 1994
Netherlands [Nederland] » Maastricht
1990 - 1992
Netherlands [Nederland] » Rotterdam
Top
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 
WRITINGS
BY THE ARCHITECT
Francine Houben, "Mobilità: camera con vista" in Alessio Pipinato (ed.), EdA esempi di Architettura 2, 2/2007 [Corridoio V. L'evoluzione nella progettazione delle infrastrutture], "Saggi" pp. 141-144
Francine Houben, Luisa Maria Calabrese (ed.), Mobility, A Room with a View, NAi Publishers, Rotterdam 2003
Francine Houben/Mecanoo Architecten, Compositie Contrast Complexiteit, NAi Uitgevers, Rotterdam 2001
tr. en.: Composition Contrast Complexity, Birkhauser, 2001
Francine Houben, Piet Vollaard, Leo Waaijers, Library Delft University of Technology. Mecanoo architects / Bibliotheek Technische Universiteit Delft. Mecanoo Architecten, Uitgeverij 010 Publishers, Rotterdam 1998
WRITINGS
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
Dutch Mountains Francine Houben Mecanoo architectenJan Tromp (text), Harry Cock (photo), Dutch Mountains. Francine Houben/Mecanoo architecten, Uitgeverij De Kunst, 2011
CREDITS
 
 
Photo © Mecanoo architecten
Text edited by Mecanoo architecten
Courtesy of Mecanoo architecten
 
 
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