At the Science and Technology Group, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture of the KU Leuven, there is a full-time vacancy for independent academic staff in the field of “Interior Architecture” in the section Architecture & Design on the Sint-Lucas Brussels and Ghent campus. We seek candidates with a strong research record in Explorative Design, with strong teaching competence in interior architectural design (studio) and demonstrable experience in academization processes in design training programmes.
The structure of KU Leuven combines faculties and research departments in a multi-campus model.
The Faculty of Architecture consists of the academic architecture programmes (interior architecture, architecture, urban design and spatial planning and the educational master) on the Sint-Lucas Brussels and Ghent campuses. The Faculty is responsible for organizing educational activities. It is driven by a consciously assembled diversity of practices and is renowned for its futureoriented education that cultivates a freedom of exploration. There are currently 2400 students, of which ca. 300 are international students. www.arch.kuleuven.be
The Department of Architecture is a research department which groups research in the fields of architecture, interior architecture, urbanism and spatial planning of researchers of the Faculty of Architecture (Sint-Lucas Brussels and Ghent campus) as well as of the Faculty of Engineering Science (Leuven). The Department is an international centre for expertise in these domains and the research is being led by numerous professors and research groups with around 150 (international) doctoral students. www.architectuur.kuleuven.be
Both the education and the research are performed at the Sint-Lucas campuses across the locations by around 300 staff members.
Website unit
Duties
Research
- You develop a research programme in Explorative Design and you position your research within the context of Interior Architecture, conceived as a practice of creating artefacts that trigger critical awareness of socio-spatial ecological qualities in (urban) environments. In this context, you will have demonstrable expertise and skills in designing and constructing/materialising experimental architectural artefacts within real-world situations, linked to theoretical frameworks. These architectural artefacts act as interventions that question new notions of (urban) living and interiorisation. The agency of architectural artefacts within changing, socio-ecological notions of (future) habitation is an important theme here.
- The research should connect with ongoing research programmes.
- You set up collaborations within and outside the department.
- You support national and international collaborations of the research group/section and you help to promote and develop them. You will also actively participate in the development of future research projects of the group/section.
- You publish and generate scientific output (including ADRO - Artistic and Design-led Research Output) at the relevant scientific level within the field of Interior Architecture, acquire resources for fundamental and/or applied research, build (international) cooperation. You are involved in, facilitate and stimulate PhDs with a design focus, as a supervisor or as a member of the supervisory committee. Your research contributes to the development of the characteristics and the further strengthening and anchoring of design-based, artistic and practice-based research at the Department of Architecture and is based on the development of a critical academic (design) practice linked to innovative learning environments.
Teaching
- You provide high-quality teaching within the field of design in Interior Architecture with a clear commitment to the quality of the educational programme as a whole. You will also contribute to the teaching project of the faculty/university by supervising master's theses and as supervisor of doctoral students.
- You develop your teaching in accordance with KU Leuven’s vision on activating and research-based education and make use of the professional and educational resources offered by the faculty and the university.
- Your teaching assignment is determined in consultation on the basis of your specific profile. In doing so, the faculty pays due attention to the balance between research, teaching and (internal) service time.
- The focus of the teaching is on the design studios in Interior Architecture (Bachelor/Master). Particularly in the master's programme, the aim is to develop research-based studios where theory and practice are strongly linked in the design process.
Service
- Scientific, social and internal service are also part of your assignment.
- You are committed to playing an important role in academic management and the further development of the Interior Architecture programme within the Faculty of Architecture. Experience with the inclusion of internal service provision (academic management) within a training programme going through an academization process is therefore highly recommended.
- You will maintain close contact with the professional field of (Interior) Architecture.
Profile
- You hold a Master's degree in Interior Architecture or Architecture, and a design-driven PhD whose topic is related to the research and education field.
- You have a strong research record in the field of Interior Architecture. Research quality is demonstrated by publications in leading/international journals and ADROs (Artistic and Design-related Research Output), as well as international research experience. Your CV/portfolio shows an active link with Interior Architecture and demonstrates this in particular through realised ADROs.
- You have demonstrable qualities for academic teaching. You have extensive experience in teaching within the studio as a learning environment.
- You have organisational skills and a collegial attitude. You also possess leadership skills in a university context. You will co-direct the Interior Architecture programme, experience in the development of an academic design programme is therefore crucial.
- A good knowledge of English is a requirement. KU Leuven offers courses in academic English.
- The administrative language of KU Leuven is Dutch. At the start of recruitment, you must have sufficient knowledge of Dutch to be able to take up internal service and teaching assignments within Bachelor’s programmes of Interior Architecture. You must therefore master Dutch as the language of instruction at CEFR level C1.
Offer
We offer fulltime employment (100%) in a vibrant and intellectually stimulating design environment. You will be part of a university that has been systematically ranked highly for the quality of its teaching and research by independent accreditation commissions. KU Leuven is a research-intensive, internationally oriented university that carries out both fundamental and applied scientific research. Our university is highly focused on interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research and strives for international excellence. In this regard, the university actively works together with research partners in Belgium and abroad and provides its students with an academic education that is based on high-quality practice and scientific research.
As a member of the Faculty of Architecture, you will work at the Sint-Lucas campus in Brussels and Ghent. Your main workplace is Ghent. The Department of Architecture operates at locations in Ghent, Brussels and Leuven.
Depending on your record and qualifications, you will be appointed to or tenured in one of the grades of the senior academic staff: assistant professor, associate professor, professor or full professor. In principle, junior researchers are appointed as assistant professor on the tenure track for a period of 5 years; after this period and a positive evaluation, they are permanently appointed (or tenured) as an associate professor.
KU Leuven is well set to welcome foreign professors and their family and provides practical support with regard to immigration & administration, housing, childcare, learning Dutch, partner career coaching, … To facilitate scientific onboarding and accelerate research in the first phase a possible starting grant of 110 000 euro will be offered to new professors without substantial other funding, appointed for at least 50%.
More information
Faculty of Architecture
Department of Architecture
Interested?
For more information on the content of the position, please contact:
- Prof. dr. Yves Schoonjans, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture (yves.schoonjans@kuleuven.be)
- Prof. dr. Rajesh Heynickx , Chair of the Departement of Architecture (rajesh.heynickx@kuleuven.be)
- Prof. Dr. Thierry Lagrange, Head of the Section Architecture & Design (thierry.lagrange@kuleuven.be)
You can apply until 26/09/2024, exclusively via our online application. For problems with online applying, please contact solliciteren@kuleuven.be.
Add to your application the following documents (more information is available on the KU Leuven job site):
- A biosketch that addresses the three core tasks of the ZAP mission (research, education and service). The biosketch should consist of no more than 2 pages. It should include the following elements: 1) the crucial elements and their importance/impact from your past career; 2) the main lines of your future vision and the future activities you plan (with an emphasis on the first 5 years); 3) the added value of your activities for KU Leuven and the collaboration within faculty/department/campus;
- A file on your five most important publications or realizations;
- An extensive cv including a full publication list including ADRO’s and if applicable a portfolio of your (interior architectural) projects or other activities relevant for the vacancy (where you may also refer to an appropriate selection on an existing website);
- Your research plan with focus on the development of your research line and research team in relation with the colleague-researchers of the entity of employment (maximum 5 pages);
- Your vision on academic education and its organization (maximum 2 pages);
- Your contribution to society by outreach and public communication on science and technology, internal representation in boards and councils and service activities directly in relation to your developed expertise (maximum 1 page);
- Your vision on leadership (maximum 1 page).
We ask that all documents, with the exception of an extensive CV, be drawn up in English.
KU Leuven places great importance on research integrity and ethical conduct and will therefore ask you to sign an integrity statement upon appointment.
KU Leuven is committed to creating a diverse environment and is therefore an equal opportunity employer. It explicitly encourages candidates from groups that are currently underrepresented at the university to submit their applications.
KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.