Architecture Café at SCHUNCK: building with the future in mind
Biobased, circular, and demountable building is on the rise but still far from the norm in Limburg. While the construction challenge grows and the need for change is greater than ever, knowledge often remains fragmented. It’s high time to bring knowledge together and start the conversation.
On Friday evening 13 June, the very first Architecture Café will take place at SCHUNCK Glaspaleis: a new gathering where practice, policy, and research come together. “This is the moment to strengthen regional knowledge sharing,” says architect Rosanne Jansen. “Especially in Limburg.”
Rosanne is an architect and co-owner of Frencken Scholl architects in Maastricht. She is also active within the Limburg Architects Collective, or LAC, which organizes the Architecture Café together with SCHUNCK. “The LAC is a network of 35 architects (firms) from across the province. It’s not a foundation, nor does it have an official status — just a group of colleagues who connect and share knowledge. For three years now, we’ve been organizing meetings around themes that matter in practice. This year, the focus is mainly on circular and biobased building.”
In transition – also in Limburg
The evening aligns with the national theme of Architecture Day: In transition. Rosanne: “We are at a turning point. The way we build needs to change, with more attention to environmental impact and future resilience. But that requires new insights and new collaboration. In the Randstad, circular and biobased building is already becoming more visible. Here in Limburg it’s happening too, but it still often remains niche. The context is different, and there is no scaling up. That’s precisely why regional knowledge sharing is essential: to grow as a professional community and make an impact.”
First edition with ambition
The Architecture Café on 13 June is a premiere — for both SCHUNCK and LAC. Rosanne: “We noticed that our networks complement each other nicely. Where LAC is strong in practice, SCHUNCK offers a powerful audience and an inspiring place to meet. That’s how the idea came about for an accessible evening full of inspiration, with short pitches and a debate about the future of our built environment.”
“We bring people together from different fields,” Rosanne says. “Not just architects, but also researchers, policymakers, and advisors. This diversity is intentional: to broaden the conversation and better understand practice.” The debate is open to the public — everyone who wants to ask questions, share, or challenge ideas is welcome. “We don’t want one-way communication but a real dialogue. Because building for the future requires more than technical solutions — it requires vision, dialogue, and courage.”
Valuable networking moment
After the program, there is time for socializing. “The drinks are more than just a closing moment,” Rosanne emphasizes. “It’s a valuable networking opportunity to meet others who - each in their own way - are committed to sustainable spatial development. New contacts, unexpected conversations, ideas that grow further — that is at least as important as what happens on stage.”
For those who want to see even more after the café, inspiring example projects in the region can be visited on Saturday 14 June during Architecture Day. Rosanne: “That’s when you see how ideas take shape in practice. And that completes the circle.”