études’ approach
études was born from a conversation, a wish to attain serenity by simplifying thoughts and figures while honouring the past and its environment.
Architecture being incomplete without the perceptual and emotional involvement of the viewer, the spaces we create seek to be respectful of a land, a building or a culture. Celebrating knowledge and care.
Following each other’s steps as childhood friends from afar, Karine and Nicolas met again in Tokyo in 2013, a partnership that evolved through numerous walks and talks challenging their respective practice.
Their different personalities and common passion for sensible and natural architecture made their complementarity clear.
Although études started on different continents, it crystallised in Brussels in late 2020.
Taking origin from our diverse background and varied interests, we specialise in projects that seamlessly integrate architecture, interior design, and art into a unified and harmonious composition.
études’ values
Our design philosophy is firmly grounded in four core values
that steer our approach to every project
DISCREET
We seamlessly integrate each project into its unique context,
creating designs that blend rather than stand out.
Our work is a humble dedication to the craft and the communities we serve, with the aim of uplifting the existing.
PERENNIAL
We seek durability in every step of our mission from natural resources and local craftsmanship to the design choice aiming to stand the test of time.
SERENE
We design spaces that prioritize tranquility and comfort,
framing environments that resonate with the essence of well-being, embodying human needs.
HONEST
We are committed to transparency, offering clear insights into our creative direction and the responsible choices we make with materials, embracing integrity and openness in our work.
études’ team
Karine Szekeres
Co Founder - Head of Design
Karine is responsible for tying the studio ideals to projects from initial concept design through to cohesive and considered built works.
Initially trained as an interior architect at the CAD, in Brussels, she then worked for Tetsuo Kondo Architects in Tokyo and WOJR in Boston where she developed an unrelenting search for perfection through considered design details and honest materiality.
Before creating études, she spent five years working as the lead designer for Templeton architecture in Melbourne where her refined aesthetic and uncompromising dedication to her craft has been a source of inspiration and joy for clients and colleagues.
The radical subtleness of her work can be traced back to her training as a professional ballet dancer which she says instilled her with the passion to create a silent architecture, respectful of the past and its environment.
When not in the office, you’ll find her teaching at the CAD, in museums across the globe or exploring Japan.
Nicolas Wicart
Co Founder - Head of Architecture
Nicolas is a registered architect and the co-founder at études Architecture & Design.
He has worked across geographical borders and scales, from store design in Japan, to mixed use and residential buildings in North America and Europe, combining a strong intuition for function and proportion with a considerable technical insight.
Trained both at La Cambre Horta in Brussels and Keio University in Tokyo, Nicolas’ interests range from the societal impact of architecture, to the importance of building traditions and techniques.
When not in the office, you’ll find him climbing, skiing down a mountain or sailing any body of water.
Batiste Museo
Collaborator - Architectural Designer
Batiste completed his Master in Architecture at the ENSA Grenoble by questioning the meaning of the "act of building" in contemporary social contexts.
During his exchange year at the TU München he developed a fascination for the notions of atmosphere and poetry of space. He pursued these interests as a junior designer at Atelier MaDe, INCA in Grenoble and Framework Studio in Paris whilst developing another approach to the notion of aesthetics and intimacy of spaces along with a sharp interest in the finishes of details, and the understanding of the material.
Eager to constantly experiment in the field of art, it is with the same sensitivity, his drive to learn and his communicative energy that he joined our team in 2023.
When not in the office, you’ll find him taking a sun bath or painting aquarelles of every day life.
Loris Taillard
Collaborator - Architect
Trained at La Cambre Horta where Loris learned to respond to specific programs in different contexts and scales. Focussing on the accuracy of proportion and on the ecological aspect and its specificities .
During his year at the Universidad Europea de Valencia, where he immersed himself in the urban and landscape development, Loris was introduced to another, more anthropological approach to architecture and its different societal aspects.
Working for 4 years in Brussels and Wallonia, Loris improved his technical knowledge at all scales, from micro to macro, always paying close attention to the context and its integration.
When not in the office, you’ll find him on a hockey field, or wandering the streets of a Provençal village.
Emma Decraene
Collaborator - Intern
Collaborators
Tijs Vervecken - Photographer
Alexandre de Terwangne - Photographer
Ekaterina Amato - CGI Artist
Victoria Sedra - CGI Artist
Klaudia Adamiak - CGI Artist
Past members
Perrine Sohet - Interior designer
Charlotte Billon - Architect
Joana Amoedo - Intern
Robert Rombouts - Intern