Founder of Bureau Bas Smets
Bas Smets is a renowned Belgian landscape architect and civil engineer recognized for his pioneering approach to “biospheric urbanism,” where he utilizes natural intelligence to create resilient microclimates within dense city centers. After earning degrees in Architecture and Civil Engineering from the University of Leuven and a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the University of Geneva, he established his career by treating landscapes as complex, engineered ecosystems rather than purely aesthetic additions. He gained international acclaim for winning the competition to redesign the public realm surrounding the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, a project that demonstrates his signature use of “augmented landscapes” to combat urban heat through strategic vegetation and water management. Beyond his primary design practice, Smets is a significant academic figure, serving as a Professor in Practice at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and curating the Belgian Pavilion for the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. His extensive portfolio spans over 50 projects in 15 countries—including notable waterfront and urban forest projects in Albania and France—consistently emphasizing the role of landscape as a vital infrastructure for the future of urban life.
