Universal Design Studio

In collaboration with Ono Architectuur, we transformed a 1960s police station in the heart of Antwerp into M127—a new head office for law firm Schoups that fuses professional practice with civic generosity. Designed as more than just a workplace, M127 encourages connection, reflection, and exchange, with the inclusion of a cafe and events space on the street level, which opens up to a publicly accessible pocket garden.

Once a stoic police station on Antwerp’s Mechelsesteenweg, M127 has been reimagined as an eight-storey landmark that carefully balances rigour with openness. Flanked by the historic Heilige Geest Kerk and the Mago Music Academy, the building now bridges contrasting architectural styles and neighbouring communities—serving as a catalyst for civic engagement.

Much of the original concrete frame has been retained, allowing the design to celebrate the building’s material honesty while strategically introducing double-height volumes, mezzanines, and energy-efficient interventions. This approach to adaptive reuse honours the past, whilst confidently projecting the building towards a more sustainable, community-focused future.

Schoups’ brief called for a spectrum of environments, from spaces demanding discretion and focus to those encouraging collaboration and exchange. This spectrum is reflected in the spatial variety across the floors: a vibrant café at street level invites public engagement; a seminar space behind supports both in-house and external programming; and a first-floor library offers law students access to professional-grade study facilities.

The inclusion of learning spaces—still rare among workplace typologies—reflects a growing appetite for work environments that support not just productivity, but intellectual exchange. M127 responds to this shift by integrating academic access into its fabric, reinforcing the idea that learning and creativity are central to long-term professional and civic vitality.

RECOGNITION

Flanders Architectural Review on M127

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“When we engage in open and respectful dialogue, we discover not only differing interests but, more importantly, that we are complementary. This mutual exchange fosters a positive dynamic, leading to surprising, unexpected outcomes and added value. Moreover, this dynamic creates an environment ripe with unpredictable opportunities, where serendipity can thrive.”—Chris Poulissen, Client

This openness extends to the building’s landscape strategy. Designed by Ludovic Devriendt, the garden opens up the site to its neighbours — both literally and symbolically. A newly acquired strip of land beside the church allows for direct passage between buildings, subtly dismantling institutional barriers and encouraging social proximity.

Art, too, plays a vital role in embedding the building in its local context. In collaboration with Belgian artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui, bespoke sculptural columns and large-scale textile works punctuate the interior, adding texture and cultural resonance throughout.

PROJECT

M127 Schoups

A community focused building for an Antwerp suburb

RECOGNITION

Flanders Architectural Review on M127

RECOGNITION

Monocle on M127 Schoups

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