LAVA architecten, based in Leuven, Belgium, operates as a compact architectural firm focused on local projects that integrate sustainability and heritage preservation. Unlike the global Laboratory for Visionary Architecture network, this independent outfit emphasizes practical, site-specific designs in the Flemish region.
The firm crafted a masterplan for the Paridaens School Campus over a decade ago, guiding subsequent buildings like a recent school wing extension that aligns with the original layout. Another key project is the Paul Van Ostaijen site, a 1930s Art Deco monastery repurposed into a CO2-neutral campus. Here, LAVA architecten installed 155 orange photovoltaic panels seamlessly matching the historic roof tiles, powering mixed residential, cultural, and green spaces without altering the building's appearance. The redevelopment added three passive-construction volumes, demolishing an old extension while matching brick tones and using curved trusses for thermal efficiency.
They also lead the "Cultural-Educational Heritage of Tomorrow," a multifunctional complex in Leuven prioritizing circularity and retrofitting. These works span school expansions, cultural hubs, and adaptive reuse, often blending new builds with existing structures to cut emissions and respect local context. The firm positions itself as a "living lab," employing custom tools for designs tied to social needs in Leuven.