The socio-political structure of Belgium, a whole containing disparate parts, serves as the catalyst for The Odd Couple: two individual secondary schools in Brussels, one Dutch-speaking, the other French-speaking, sharing the same site. The common element shared among the two schools is the public realm. Rather than shunning the public, the public is encouraged to actively engage in activities within the building. In this way the common spaces throughout the building take on the role of serving the needs and desires of both schools and the public, resulting in the necessity for dialogue and cooperation. By filtering program through a socio-political lens, a “school” typology emerges that emphasizes interaction and extramural learning.Sponsorship: Conger-Austin, Susa
