Simon De Boeck holds a degree in Architectural Engineering at Ghent University and a Master of Human Settlements at KU Leuven.
During his professional career, he explored his passion for spatial development in different disciplines and at different scale levels: as a practicing associated architect, as a cabinet expert for the Flemish minister for spatial planning, and most recently as a mayor in his hometown.
His PhD research focuses on the transformation of public space, from monotechnic space for cars, to liveable urban space, and more specifically on the challenging implementation process between the conception of the paradigm and its realisation.
Favorite (place in the) city
Avinguda Mistral in Sant Antoni, Barcelona.
When I studied in Barcelona, I enjoyed life along this avenue, an ancient relict of a medieval road, diagonally carving out a lively car-free breathing space through the Cerdà grid. Today, the place is the edge of the Sant Antoni ‘superblock’, a pilot project for Barcelona’s ambition to transform streets across the city from space for cars to space for people.