sophiaholst@gmail.com
BE 0032 (0)4 88 04 94 73
NL 0031 (0)6 34 34 75 17
Through critical urban research, applied architecture, and counter-projects, I investigate the politics of architecture, urban planning, and everyday life. I focus on my own living environment, a Western European context, where urban development is increasingly driven by neoliberal growth, often at the expense of socio-economic diversity and urban equality. By critically examining ideologies and consequences behind urban strategies and architectural forms, while simultaneously imagining or testing alternatives, I seek to contribute to a democratic, inspiring, and just transformation of the city. Some of my projects have focused on: the value of public privacy and un-programmed public spaces, the privatisation of urban commons, the potential of residual monumental spaces, and issues around heritage and housing struggles within post-war social housing transformations, both in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Bio
Sophia Holst (1988) is a Dutch architect-researcher based in Brussels, active in the architectural fields of Belgium and the Netherlands. She obtained a Master’s degree in Visual Arts at the Sandberg Instituut in Amsterdam and a Master in Architecture at the KU Leuven in Brussels. She collaborated with architecture offices like Studio Anne Holtrop, Nu architectuuratelier and CRIT architects, and completed residencies at the Jan van Eyck Academy and Morpho. Next to her independent practice, she currently teaches at the Architecture Department of the KU Leuven Brussels.
Through exhibition, publication, lecture, debate and curation her work has been made public with the support of institutions like Z33, VAi, MAD Brussels, Archined, A+, Arcam, PAF, Team Vlaams Bouwmeester, Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, Vlaams Kunstendecreet...
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Proud receiver of the Vlaams Bouwmeester Label 038
in collaboration with Oleg Asoiev, meow collective
'Koken met het ongeplande'
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Talk: Feministische perspectieven aan tafel: #3 'Activisme als praktijk'
in conversation with Leen De Becker, VAi x PAF 26/06/2026 10:00 - 12:30
@DE SINGEL
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Lecture 'Housing Pain, Healing Strategies' and guided tour through expo 'Bouwen op Woongeschiedenis' 24/10/25, 13:00—15:00 @Arcam
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Opinion piece published in A+313 Parallel Practices, "De ongenode buitenstaander"
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Selected for the Morpho residency program in Antwerp, winter/summer 2026
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Proud receiver of the Flemish Kunstendecreet 'Beurs' 2025/2026
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Part of exhibition 'Brussels Based' , @ D’Ieteren Building HQ, Brussels, 21/03/25 - 20/04/25
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Model on show of 'Housing Pain Healing Strategies' @ Arcam, in the expo
'Bouwen op Woongeschiedenis' , Amsterdam, 15/11/24 - 23/11/25
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Exhibition opening 'Bouwen op Woongeschiedenis' about alternative (local) housing histories in Amsterdam nieuw-West, Noord and Zuid-Oost.
With Tayfun Balçik, Sophia Holst and Wouter Stroet
@ Arcam, Amsterdam, 15/11/24 - 23/11/25 @ 15:00
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Lecturer at Symposium 'Hervertellingen' about alternative local histories in the outskirts of Amsterdam, with Tauyfun Balçic, @Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam, 02/12, 9:00-17:30 hr
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Contribution to AMJournal, Edition #2, 'Deconstructing Gentrification' by Amsterdam Museum, in 'The Polylogue': a round table conversation on deconstructing gentrification - with Tayfun Balçik, René Boer, Sophia Holst, Melissa Koutoutzis, and Elaine Michon
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Lecture within Masterclass for Social Housing Corporations Amsterdam 'Hervertellingen Nieuw-West' by Arcam @ Ossestal Amsterdam, 28/05
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Scenography @ KVS Brussels for Kunstenfestivaldesarts 10/05 - 01/06
in collaboration with Laura Muyldermans
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Lecture 'Terug naar Nieuw-West' at New Metropolis, Amsterdam, 08/05 @ 19:30
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'Arcam Boekenclub' about Amsterdam Nieuw-West, 25/05 @ 15:00 - 17:30 hr
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Fietstocht 'Terug naar de toekomst', i.s.m. Tayfun Balçic en Arcam, Amsterdam, 24/03 @ 13:00 - 15:30 hr
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Part of the curator team 'Hervertellingen', within the Arcam year program 2024, Amsterdam. In collaboration with Tayfun Balçic
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Guest lecture 'Housing Pain Healing Strategies' at Master Stads- en architectuurgeschiedenis UVA, Amsterdam, 10/01
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Lecture: 'Housing Pain, Healing Strategies', Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven, 22/10 @ 15:00 - 15:30 hr
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Lecture: 'Forms of Public Privacy', Studio Stadswaag, Antwerp 29/09
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Exhibition at MAD Brussels, Across program, 16/06 - 03/09
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Teaching: Research & Critical Thinking, Master of Architecture, Tilburg 2023
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Lecture series trough Belgium, Across program, 2022/ 2023
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Panellist at: BK Talks 'Perspectives. Urbanisms of diversity', TU Delft 22/09
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Exhibition Tafelzetting #3: 'Publieke Denkbeelden' VAI, Antwerp. 26/08 - 23/10
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GRANT Creative Industries Fund NL Regeling Talentontwikkeling 2022/ 2023
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Honourable mention for the Prix de Rome Architecture 2022
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