About

After his secondary education at the Royal Atheneum in Vilvoorde, Roger De Winter chose to become an architect, probably inspired by his artistic mother and also his uncle Emile Verdoodt, who was a surveyor-architect. However, the style of Sint-Lucas did not appeal to him that much, and after his Bachelor (1940-1944) he resolutely turned his course to La Cambre (1944-1947) where important Belgian modernists taught at the time. Roger De Winter obtained a Master of Architecture with distinction in the studio of Victor Bougeois. He also studied Urban Planning there.

After an internship at the Ministry of Public Health and Family where he was involved in the renovation of the Hofstade Domain, he associated with architect Paul-Emile Vincent between 1948 and 1950. With this he started his independent career in his home town of Vilvoorde, which was then characterised by a housing shortage resulting from industrialisation and post-war suburbanisation.

In 1950, the recently graduated architect Lucien Engels, equally inspired by La Cambre, associated himself with the more experienced De Winter. Together, in the conservatory of De Winter's parental home, a fascinating oeuvre of fifty terraced houses was designed, built along newly constructed streets in Vilvoorde. Their shared architecture, and each of them separately, is characterised by functionalism combined with colourful decorative elements in which playful light plays a central role. At that time, there was no Ikea culture yet, the architect was still developing a total concept, including custom-made furniture and a garden. The collaboration ended in 1954, creative people often have a strong ego.

(In 2010, the book 'Vilvoorde. Staalkaart van moderne architectuur' with accompanying walk was published by the Province of Flemish-Babant, dedicated to the common repertoire. Architecture walks are often organised in Vilvoorde by Lucas Vanclooster and his assistants.)

Roger De Winter started his own architectural firm in 1954. It was mainly focused on private construction and small businesses in the greater area of ​​Vilvoorde, Mechelen, Antwerp, Brussels and Walloon Brabant. Over the years, his clientele evolved from middle class to wealthy self-employed people and CEOs. His office was small but selective with architects such as Laurent Willockx, Lode Janssens, Roger Honinckx, Roger Van Hamme, Jan Fellemans, Chris Verhaegen, etc. Roger De Winter worked as a freelance furniture designer between 1958 and 1975. This team had the potential for large public projects, but during 'competitions' they did not go to restaurants with the decision-makers and thus missed the assignments. The verb 'networking' was not their thing. Projects of a political nature were systematically avoided.

Roger De Winter continued to work as an architect until the mid-1990s. There is much more to say about him, such as a project in Brescia, Italy, a commission for UNESCO in Paris, the Instrument Museum, … and of course his gold medal for Expo 58.